Written Answers of 11 December 1989

THE ARTS

  Public Libraries
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the Government's spending plans for public libraries.

  Mr. Luce
  The Government do not plan local authority spending on public libraries or on other services. Revenue support grant is paid in support of local authorities'

  Non-industrial civil service

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–891

  4,337

  5,734

  4,105

  4,084

  3,739

  4,893

  4,441

  1 Provisional

  Source: Mandate

NATIONAL FINANCE

  GDP
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the growth in gross domestic product in each Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Ryder
  Following is the information requested.

  Growth ofGDP/GNP at Constant Prices (percentage change on a year earlier)

  1988

  United Kingdom

  4·3

  United States

  4·4

  Japan

  5·8

  Germany

  3·6

  France

  3·4

  Italy

  3·9

  Canada

  5·0

  Belgium

  4·2

  Luxembourg

  5·2

  Netherlands

  3·0

  Denmark

  -0·2

  Ireland

  0·4

  Spain

  5·0

  Portugal

  4·1

  Greece

  3·4

  Australia

  3·8

  New Zealand

  0·3

  Austria

  4·2

  Finland

  4–8

  Iceland

  -1·4

  Norway

  2·6

  Sweden

  2·1

  Switzerland

  3·0

  Turkey

  3·4

  Source: OECD and national sources.
  448
  revenue expenditure generally. For 1990–91, it is proposed to distribute revenue support grant on the basis that it is appropriate for authorities in England in aggregate to incur revenue spending of £32·8 billion, in the provision of services. Of this amount, £5·004 billion is assumed to be spent on the other services block, a group of smaller services including libraries.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Early Retirement
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants have taken early retirement for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Ryder
  I have been asked to reply.

  The earliest year for which this information is readily available is 1982–83. The details are as follows:

  Building Societies
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (I) if he will make a statement on the role of the Building Societies Commission on the proposed merger of the Guardian building society and the Cheltenham and Gloucester building society;

  (2) if he will take steps to enable the Building Societies Commission to ensure that members of the Guardian and Cheltenham and Gloucester building societies are provided with statements of the case for and against the merger of those societies, and are given sufficient time to reach a considered decision.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Building Societies Commission has two statutory functions placed upon it under the provisions of sections 93 to 96 and schedule 16 (mergers) of the Building Societies Act 1986. First, it has to approve the contents of the statement required to be sent to all members under schedule 16 to the Act and, second, if the members approve the requisite resolutions, to confirm the merger. The commission has approved the statutory statements issued by the societies in connection with the proposed merger between the Guardian building society and the Cheltenham and Gloucester building society. If the special and borrowing members resolutions are passed, the commission intends to consider the societies' applications for confirmation on 14 February 1990, when it will consider any representations made by interested parties. That hearing must be directed to consideration of whether the statutory procedures and the provisions of the 1986 Act and the societies' rules have been complied with. It is not for the commission to consider the merits of the terms of a merger.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what additional responsibilities have been assumed by the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland in the Department of Economic Development since 25 July;

  (2) what are the current responsibilities of the Minister for the Environment in Northern Ireland;

  (3) what changes have been made to the budget of the Minister for the Environment in Northern Ireland since 25 July;

  (4) what changes have been made to the budgets of the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland in the Department of Economic Development and the Department of the Environment since 25 July.

  Mr. Brooke
  All Northern Ireland Departments are under my direction and control and I have allocated economic development and environment responsibilities as follows:

  Mr. Needham

  Urban Regeneration;

  Urban Development Grant;

  Belfast Action Teams;

  Promotion of Belfast City Centre;

  Planning Service;

  Lands Service; and

  Ports and Harbours.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley

  The remainder of the Department of Environment functions.

  The main changes to budgetary allocations since 25 July are summarised in the table and have been reflected as necessary in the autumn Supplementary Estimate approved on 4 December.

  Department of Economic Development
  Industry Trade and Employment;
  Increase of £42 million reflecting additional provision for Shorts and Harland and Wolff offset by emerging savings on Industrial Development and Labour Market services. Energy;
  Reduction of £8 million through additional loan repayments by NIE.

  Department of Environment
  Mr. Needham's responsibilities
  Reduction of £2 million mainly reflecting delays in Urban Development Schemes coming forward for grant.
  Mr. Bottomley's responsibilities
  Roads and Transport;
  Net reduction of £1 million reflecting several minor changes.
  Housing;
  Reduction of £42 million reflecting interest savings from the write-off of loans to NIHE. The reduction did not affect the resources available for physical housing programmes. Indeed the availability of increased Housing receipts has facilitated an increase in the gross expenditure by the NIHE.
  Environmental and Miscellaneous Services;
  Additional £1 million reflecting several minor changes.

  The changes to budgets do not involve any increase in total public expenditure.

  Motorways (Accidents)
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many road accidents have been reported involving stationary vehicles on motorway hard shoulders in each of the years 1980 to 1989; and how many people were(a) injured and (b) killed.
  450
  Mr. Cope
  The Chief Constable of the RUC has advised me that the relevant records were computerised in 1986 and information for the years prior to that could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information for the years 1986 to 1989 is set out in the following table:

  Number of accidents

  Persons killed

  Persons injured

  1986

  3

  —

  4

  1987

  3

  —

  8

  1988

  3

  —

  40

  11989

  1

  —

  1

  TOTALS

  10

  —

  17

  1 To 31 October 1989

  Shorts Base
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date construction work commenced on the new building, roadworks, car park and entrance at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the Downpatrick-Ballynahinch road in South Down.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Construction work had already started on the building without the required planning permission in May 1989. A temporary access for which permission had been granted for a period of one year on 24 January 1989 had already been completed by May 1989. No new car parking facilities are proposed.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date or dates the planning department carried out inspections at the site of the building currently under construction at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the Downpatrick-Ballynahinch road in South Down.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  An inspection was carried out on 16 May 1989 when Short Brothers plc was told that planning permission was required for the works already commenced. A further site inspection took place on 1 September 1989.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations were held between the local farmers, householders, etc. and the town and country planning service about the building under construction, new roadworks, new entrance and car park at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the Downpatrick-Ballynahinch road in South Down.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Prior to 5 December 1989 the planning application received from Short Bros. plc was for a temporary access to the site for which planning permission was granted on 24 January 1989 for a period of one year. This application was advertised and processed in the normal way and attracted no local representations.

  A planning application for the remainder of the works was made complete on 5 December 1989 and it will be advertised and processed in the normal way.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations were held between the management of Shorts aircraft factory and officials in the Department of the Environment town and country planning service and the Department of the Environment roads service about the building currently under
  451
  construction, the new car park, and the new entrance at the Lough Mann base situated on the DownpatrickBallynahinch road in South Down.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Following a meeting on site in May 1989 with the divisional planning officer, Short Bros. contacted the Department on several occasions and obtained advice on the information required to allow for the proper processing of a planning application. The application was not made complete until 5 December 1989.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what inspections were carried out by the planning department at the site of the building under construction at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the Downpatrick-Ballynahinch road in South Down.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Two site inspections were carried out, one in May 1989 and the other in September 1989.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what type of work will be carried out in the new building currently under construction at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the DownpatrickBallynahinch road in South Down.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A current planning application describes the proposed development as an extension to the firm's storage and assembly facility at Lough Mann.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when was the planning application in respect of the new entrance and new car park at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the DownpatrickBallynahinch road in South Down submitted and when was approval issued.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  An application for planning permission for a temporary access on to the DownpatrickBallynahinch road was received on 31 October 1988 and approved for a period of one year on 24 January 1989. No new car parking facilities were shown on this application.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when was the planning application made and approval issued in respect of the two signs erected on either side of the Downpatrick/Ballynahinch road adjacent to the new entrance at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the Downpatrick-Ballynahinch road in South Down.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  An application for planning permission was not made for the erection of these signs. As Short Bros plc has undertaken to remove the signs by 24 January 1990, the DOE(NI) does not intend to take any action on the matter.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when was the planning application submitted and approved in respect of the new building under construction at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the Downpatrick-Ballynahinch road in South Down; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  An incomplete planning application was made on 8 September 1989, and completed on 5 December 1989. This application will be subjected to the normal consultation process before Down district council is asked to consider the DOE(NI) opinion on the proposal.

  Security
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Cope
  So far this year, 60 people have died as a result of the security situation in Northern Ireland; including nine RUC officers, 12 Regular soldiers (including two members of the UDR) and 39 civilians.

  The security threat remains at high, but the professional and courageous efforts of the security forces have resulted in 360 people being charged with serious terrorist-type offences. A large amount of weaponry, ammunitions and explosives has also been recovered in the Province. There have also been substantial finds of arms and explosives by the Garda Siochana in the Republic of Ireland.

  Adrian Carroll (Murder)
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Royal Ulster Constabulary has in its possession a gun the ballistics of which match the weapon used in the murder of Adrian Carroll in Armagh in November 1983.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 8 December 1989]: This is a matter for the Chief Constable, but I understand that police checks on recovered weapons which it is believed could have been used in the murder of Mr. Carroll have not revealed a matching weapon.

  Civil Service
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentages of the Northern Ireland civil servants described in the third report of the equal opportunity unit for the Northern Ireland Civil Service as being educated outside Northern Ireland or whose religion was not known were(a) non-industrial civil servants, (b) in higher grades or (c) born in Great Britain.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 4 December 1989]: Of the 2,933 Northern Ireland civil servants educated outside Northern Ireland or whose religion was not known at 1 January 1989; 57·1 per cent.—1,675—were non-industrial civil servants; 12·1 per cent.—355—were in higher grades; deputy principal equivalent or above in the non-industrial Civil Service.

  The Northern Ireland Civil Service does not monitor the number of staff born in Great Britain and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employees of the Northern Ireland Civil Service were educated in Great Britain.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: At 1 January 1989, the Northern Ireland Civil Service had 754 staff who, in its equal opportunities monitoring system, were classified as having been educated outside Northern Ireland. It is not known how many were educated in Great Britain and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Rivers and Lakes
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of(a) rivers and (b) lakes maintained by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries Division, in each district council area in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: The Department of Agriculture currently maintains a total of 61 waters consisting of rivers, lakes and reservoirs for angling by those members of the public who purchase a Department permit.

  The location and details of all Department of Agriculture fisheries are published in an angling guide and I have arranged for a copy to be sent to the hon. Member.

  It is not possible to allocate fisheries to individual district council areas as the information is not held in the form requested and some of the fisheries can run through two or more district council areas.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of Northern Ireland Civil Service employees who are classified by the equal opportunities unit as being either educated outside Northern Ireland or their religion was not known; and how many of these employees are employed at grade H, and each other higher grade, in the non-industrial sector.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: A total of 2,933, as at 1 January 1989, of whom the following were in the non-industrial Civil Service.

  Grade Level A

  81

  B

  97

  C

  177

  D

  172

  E

  438

  F

  250

  G

  206

  H

  254

  Roads
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated hourly vehicle capacity of(a) Ballyrobin road, Templepatrick side of traffic lights (b) Ballyrobin road; airport side of traffic lights, (c) Killead road, Killead village and (d) Oldstone road, north of traffic lights.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 8 December 1989]: There is no agreed definition of capacity for roads. It is not possible to provide these figures.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Training
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, how much is spent each year on the training of the clergy.

  Mr. Alison
  The commissioners have no responsibility for the training of the clergy, and their funds are not available for the purpose. However, I understand that the latest figure (for 1988) was £3·9 million, though I must explain that this relates exclusively to ordination training. Should my hon. Friend wish to pursue his interest in this area, I will willingly give him the name and address of the body with which he should correspond.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  ODA Debt
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total outstanding Overseas Development Administration debt in(a) 1982, (b) 1988 and (c) for each country in 1988; how much was repaid each year between 1982 and 1988; and under what terms the credits had been made available.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The figures for the calendar year 1988 are not yet available and therefore the following figures are given on a financial year basis for the sake of consistency. The outstanding debt totals at the end of 1982–83 and 1988–89 were £1,208,126,092 and £1,176,970,296 respectively; the breakdown of the latter by country is shown in table 1. The figures do not include loans which at the relevant dates had been converted to grants under the retrospective terms adjustment arrangements or written off. In the case of India an equivalent measure to retrospective terms adjustment was adopted in the form of local costs finance equal to the payments due. The amounts repaid between 1982–83 and 1988–89 are shown in table 2. The terms of loans varied considerably and details of all loans could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Table 1

  Breakdown by country of outstanding debt totals at end of 1988–89

  £

  Antigua

  145,033·72

  Barbados

  523,070·30

  Belize

  11,552,858·93

  Bolivia

  270,856·48

  Brazil

  3,340,202·17

  British Virgin Islands

  2,477,144·55

  Cameroon

  66,775·58

  Cayman Islands

  900,223·70

  Colombia

  2,591,575·67

  Costa Rica

  3,214,041·25

  Cyprus

  344,048·99

  Dominica

  6,353,939·01

  Ecuador

  7,557,273·24

  Egypt

  6,863,734·57

  Falkland Islands

  191,025·81

  Fiji

  1,887,821·78

  Gibraltar

  902,075·73

  Ghana

  331,120·53

  Grenada

  3,263,707·50

  Guyana

  25,041,467·13

  Honduras

  3,985,888·79

  India

  193,946,546·91

  Ivory Coast

  2,564,520·59

  Jamaica

  49,332,675·99

  Jordan

  37,285,063·06

  Laos

  27,983·00

  Liberia

  77,749·50

  Malaysia

  13,767,453"87

  Malta

  1,692,486·23

  Mauritius

  8,235,343·27

  New Hebrides

  114,620·00

  Nicaragua

  584,705·62

  Nigeria

  5,055,084·04

  Paraguay

  4,220,000·00

  Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen

  4,162,899·66

  Peru

  4,194,608·68

  Philippines

  5,481,634·67

  St· Kitts-Nevis

  758,694·63

  St· Lucia

  635,066·65

  St· Vincent

  81,549·56

  Seychelles

  10,921,084·69

  Singapore

  7,291,652·00

  Solomon Islands

  4,736,949·90

  Swaziland

  10,196,888·58

  455

  £

  Thailand

  981,392·08

  Tonga

  1,673,486·92

  Trinidad and Tobago

  60,000·00

  Tunisia

  339,822·01

  Turkey

  69,871,630·85

  Vietnam

  196,789·37

  Zambia

  45,262,252·23

  Zimbabwe

  26,166,265·70

  Bailey Malta (Ltd)

  6,405,480·00

  Country Total

  598,126,274·69

  Multilateral

  67,778,686·72

  Commonwealth Development Corporation

  511,065,334·24

  Table 2

  Amounts repaid between 1982–83 and 1988–89

  £

  1982–83

  69,691,483·78

  1983–84

  70,103,983·98

  1984–85

  70,896,173·25

  1985–86

  70,475,174·81

  1986–87

  69,720,259·00

  1987–88

  70,893,107·50

  1988–89

  68,538,447·67

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Staff (Ages)
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what proportion of House staff employed on 1 November were(a) under 18 years, (b) under 25 years and (c) over 50 years.

  Mr. Beith
  The total number of staff employed at 1 November 1989 was 988 of whom(a) 1 (or 0·1 per cent.) was under 18; (b) 111 (or 11·23 per cent.) were under 25; and (c) 274 (or 27·73 per cent.) were over 50 years of age.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Maladministration
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will propose an amendment of the law to enable maladministration by judges and court officials to be reviewed by the Parliamentary Commissioner when they are not acting in a purely judicial capacity.

  The Attorney-General
  No.

  Judicial Appointments
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) how many black judges he estimates there will be in the year 2000; and what percentage of the total this will be;

  (2) what percentage and number of county court judges are black;

  (3) what percentage and number of judges who sit full time in the Crown court are black;

  (4) what percentage and number of judges who sit in the Court of Appeal and Court of Criminal Appeal are black;

  (5) what percentage and number of judges who sit in the Divisional Court are black;
  456
  (6) what percentage and number of judges who sit in the High Court are black;

  (7) what percentage and number of those who sit in the House of Lords in its capacity as an apellate court are black;

  (8) what percentage and number of recorders are black.

  The Attorney-General
  Records are not kept of the ethnic origin of members of the judiciary or of candidates for judicial appointment but our understanding of the present position is as follows.

  There are no black Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, Lord Justices of Appeal or High Court judges. There are 422 circuit judges of whom one is black (0·2 per cent.). There are 703 recorders of whom five are black (0·7 per cent.). It is impossible to produce a meaningful estimate of the number of individuals from ethnic minorities who will hold judicial office in the year 2000. Every effort however is being made to encourage black lawyers in the appropriate age groups to put themselves forward for judicial office, and it is the Lord Chancellor's hope that by 2000 there will be many more black judges.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) how many female judges he estimates there will be in the year 2000; and what percentage of the total this will be;

  (2) what percentage and number of county court judges are female;

  (3) what percentage and number of judges who sit full-time in the Crown courts are female;

  (4) what percentage and number of judges who sit in the Divisional Court are female;

  (5) what percentage and number of recorders are female;

  (6) what percentage and number of those who sit in the House of Lords in its capacity as an appellate court are female;

  (7) what percentage and numbers of judges who sit in the Court of Appeal and Court of Criminal Appeal are female;

  (8) what percentage and number of judges who sit in the High Court are female.

  The Attorney-General
  The following figures are correct. as at 1 December 1989.

  There are 10 Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, of whom none is female.

  There are 27 Lords Justices of Appeal, of whom one is female (3·7 per cent).

  There are 81 High Court judges, of whom one is female (1·2 per cent).

  There are 422 circuit judges, of whom 17 are female (4 per cent).

  There are 703 recorders, of whom 25 are female (3·6 per cent).

  It is impossible to produce a meaningful estimate of the number of female judges there will be in the year 2000.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) what steps he is taking to increase the number of female judges; (2) what steps he is taking to increase the numbers of black judges.

  The Attorney-General
  Candidates for judicial appointment are considered on their merits, regardless of sex or ethnic origin. The Lord Chancellor has, however, made it clear on a number of occasions that he would very much
  457
  like to appoint more women and members of ethnic minorities to judicial office, and has urged groups representing women lawyers and lawyers from ethnic minorities to encourage those of their members in the appropriate age groups to put themselves forward as candidates for appointment.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Procedural Reform
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on his assessment of the case for reform of the procedures of the House.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes).

  Facilities (Visitors)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will review the earliest time at which visitors can be admitted at St. Stephen's Entrance; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The arrangements for visitors are kept under review by the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee and I understand that it would be hard to justify the additional costs of opening St. Stephen's entrance earlier than the present time of 9 am on sitting days due to the small numbers of visitors seeking entrance at that hour.

  European Community Debates
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement about the number of hours spent debating European Economic Community matters during the 1988–89 Parliament.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The number of hours spent debating European Community matters during the 1988–89 Session was approximately 90 hours, including three debates totalling 16 hours on the six-monthly White Papers on developments in the European Community covering the period January 1988 to June 1989, 11·5 hours in Standing Committee and four hours on ministerial statements. This total excludes time spent in discussion of European Community matters during debates on wider issues or at other times such as Question Time.

  Prime Minister's Press Secretary
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what facilities are provided in the Palace of Westminster for the Prime Minister's Press Secretary.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  None.

  Members of the European Parliament
  Mr. Aitken
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he expects to bring forward any proposals that will allow Members of the European Parliament to participate in committees or any other proceedings of the House.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I have no plans at this stage to bring forward such proposals. However, the report of the Select 458
  Committee on Procedure on the scrutiny of European legislation published on 30 November contains recommendations on developing the links between Parliament and MEPs. I cannot comment on detailed points in the report at this stage, but I have already assured the House that the Goverment will look carefully and constructively at all the report's recommendations.

PRIME MINISTER

  Nuclear Arms
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during the debriefing meeting of NATO nations' heads of state and government in Brussels on 4 December, President Bush indicated whether the issues of the fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and non-proliferation policies were discussed by Presidents Bush and Gorbachev in Malta.

  The Prime Minister
  No. The President gave no indication that these issues had been discussed.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister when she last took the opportunity to discuss with President Bush the forthcoming amendment conference of the partial test ban treaty.

  The Prime Minister
  I have not discussed this issue with President Bush.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister when she last took the opportunity to discuss with President Bush joint United States-United Kingdom initiatives that may be taken to strengthen the 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty before the fourth review conference of that treaty.

  The Prime Minister
  I have not discussed this with President Bush. There is, however, frequent contact with the United States on such matters at official level.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister when she last took the opportunity to discuss with President Bush(a) the adequacy of NATO nation expenditure on nuclear weapons and (b) initiatives that may be taken on nuclear disarmament.

  The Prime Minister
  I last met President Bush at the NATO summit on 4 December; defence issues were among those discussed at the summit.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Prime Minister if she intends to discuss the issues of Palestinian human rights and self-determination when she next meets her Israeli counterpart.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to meet Mr. Shamir.

  Rain Forests
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will give details of the allocation to individual projects of £100 million United Kingdom support announced in her speech to the United Nations for rain forest protection.

  The Prime Minister
  We currently have in preparation over 50 projects in 22 countries. Allocations from the £100
  459
  million I announced on 8 November will be made for these and other projects. Since August ODA forestry missions have visited Brazil, Cameroon, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Details of particular projects will be made known when formal agreement has been reached with the country concerned. The £100 million is for commitment over the next three years.

  Nuclear Energy
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister what actions the Government have taken, and intend to take, to encourage those parties to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty that have not yet negotiated their mandatory safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, to do so.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 8 December 1989]: The negotiation and conclusion of a safeguards agreement pursuant to article III of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) are matters for each NPT party and the International Atomic Energy Agency. However, we take every appropriate opportunity to underline the importance we attach to the fulfilment of obligations under the NPT.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps the Government intend to take to assist in increasing the funding for International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards activities.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 8 December 1989]: The International Atomic Energy Agency's safeguards activities are financed from its regular budget. These activities play a vital role in guarding against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and the whole international community benefits. When the agency's board of governors discusses the budget for 1991–92, the United Kingdom will continue to argue that safeguards activities deserve the highest priority.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to raise at the Strasbourg summit of European Community Heads of Government with the President and Prime Minister of France, France's export policies for nuclear materials and sensitive nuclear technology and prospects of France joining the nulear non-proliferation treaty.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 8 December 1989]: I did not raise these issues at the European Council meeting in Strasbourg.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her meeting with President Roh Tae Woo of South Korea in London recently, she discussed the dangers to peace in the Korean peninsular of the North Korean development of a military nuclear materials production capability based on a United Kingdom designed reactor and the fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty next August and its role in preventing nuclear proliferation in the Korean peninsula.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 8 December 1989]: Neither subject was raised.

  Cambodia
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister when the two officials referred to in her letter of 4 December to the hon. Member for Halifax will arrive in Phnom Penh.
  460
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 8 December 1989]: The British officials arrived in Cambodia on 8 December 1989.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Buttons
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations he has received from the British Button Manufacturers Association relating to the statutory instrument, 1989 No. 1291; and whether he will seek to amend the instrument in the light of the representations;

  (2) what consultation his Department held with representatives of the British button industry on the provisions of statutory instrument 1989 No. 1291.

  Mr. Redwood
  The British Button Manufacturers Association has made representations for exempting from the provisions of the Food Imitations (Safety) Regulations 1989 buttons which resemble food. These regulations implement from 1 January 1990 the European Community dangerous imitations directive and within the terms of the directive it would not have been permissible to accede to these representations.

  Mail Charges
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whose approval was required for the Post Office to revise their scale of surcharges for understamped mail; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Decisions on the level of postal tariffs, including surcharges, are a matter for the Post Office. However, the Post Office is required to consult the Post Office Users National Council before making changes.

  Companies Act Investigations
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what policies his Department operates about the employment on privatisation of accountancy firms criticised in his Department's reports on Companies Act inquiries; how these are enforced; and what rules he lays down about the use of individual accountants and practices criticised in these reports.

  Mr. Redwood
  Firms, including accountancy firms, are invited to tender for the provision of advisory services to the Department on the basis of its assessment of their suitability to provide those services. In making its assessment, the Department pays due regard to adverse criticisms of individual firms particularly where they might be relevant to the particular work for which the firms could be invited to tender.

  Security Interests in Property
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what responses have been received to consultation following the publication of the Diamond report, "A Review of Security Interests in Property"; and when the Government expect to be able to make a statement about reform of the law in this area;

  (2) if, now that the Diamond report, "A Review of Security Interests in Property", has been published and the

  461
  consultation period is ended he will ask the Scottish Law Commission to resume its work on floating charges and include any appropriate recommendations that arise from their consultative memorandum No. 72, "Floating Charges and Receivers", published in October 1986;

  (3) what steps he intends to take to remove the present prohibition in the law of Scotland on taking security over moveable property without possession; and what representations he has had on this subject.

  Mr. Redwood
  A significant number of responses have been received to the proposals outlined in part II of Professor Diamond's report, "A Review of Security Interests in Property" published by HMSO in January. Professor Diamond recommends radical reform in a complex area of the law which will need careful consideration. The Government will make public their conclusions, in the light of the responses received, in due course.

  Professor Diamond's report pays particular attention to the restrictions of current Scots security law and a number of respondees commented on this aspect. It will be given due weight in the Government's consideration of what action should be taken in response to the report.

  The question whether the Scottish Law Commission decides to resume its work on floating charges and receivers will to some extent depend upon the conclusions the Government reach on Professor Diamond's report. The work was not suspended at the request of the Government.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what principles his Department has developed as a basis of common practice for firms and businesses to be privatised in the valuation of(a) property assets, (b) subsidiary shareholding, (c) stocks, (d) good will, (e) other assets, and (f) debt; what consultations he had with the accountancy profession in developing these standards; and how they are reviewed after each individual privatisation.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department takes appropriate professional advice on the basis of the particular circumstances and requirements of each firm or business to be privatised.

  Auditors
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is taken by his Department in dealing with auditing firms that deliver poor audits.

  Mr. Redwood
  Complaints about auditors' conduct of statutory audits of companies are normally referred to the relevant professional body and the outcome of the referral is noted.

  Mobile Telecommunications
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans for introducing further competition into mobile telecommunications; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  On 22 June 1989 the then Secretary of State, Lord Young, announced that a consortium led by 462
  Mercury Communications Ltd. or its parent company, Cable and Wireless, would be offered a licence to operate a mobile telecommunications network within the frequency range of 1·7 to 2·3 GHz, subject to the submission of an acceptable proposal. He also invited applications for one or two further licences to operate such networks. Seven applications were received by the closing date on 14 September.

  The proposal from the consortium headed by Mercury, and the other applications have been fully assessed by the Director General of Telecommunications, who has made recommendations to the Secretary of State. We are grateful to the director general and his staff for their careful and thorough assessment.

  Following his advice, I can confirm I am offering a licence to Mercury PCN Ltd., a consortium comprising Mercury Communications Ltd. Motorola Ltd. and Telefonica.

  I am also offering licences to a consortium consisting of British Aerospace (Space Communications) Ltd., Matra Communication, Millicom UK, Pacific Telesis UK (3) Ltd. and Sony; and a consortium consisting of STC, US West, Thorn EMI and Deutsche Bundespost Telekom, which will operate under the name of Unitel Ltd.

  These licences will permit the operators to run personal communications networks (PCNs) in the frequency range 1·7–1·9 They will come into service in the early 1990s. We expect them to compete initially with the services offered by the two existing cellular radio operators, Cellnet and Racal-Vodafone at that time. By the mid to late 1990s, the cost and convenience of equipment may make the use of a PCN a competitive alternative not only to the cellular operators' services but to the fixed telephone network.

  The details of operating licences and radio spectrum allocation will now be discussed with the successful licensees. As the announcement of 22 June indicated, they will be able to provide their own radio-based network infrastructure between cells. They will also be permitted to share infrastructure in rural areas if they wish to do so.

  The announcement on 22 June specified that the networks should be based on either the GSM standard developed for the pan-European cellular network or the digital European cordless telephone (DECT) technology. In order to allow for full consultation within Europe we have decided not to take a final decision on these two technologies at this stage. This consultation will be undertaken by the successful licensees, with the support of my officials, through the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). However, our objective of a comnon technical standard as a framework for competitive United Kingdom PCN services remain the same, and we expect this to be based upon a European technology or a combination of technologies currently being standardised in Europe.

  PCNs will take the development of telecommunications in the United Kingdom a major step forward. They will allow the same telephone to be used at home, at work and on the move. The United Kingdom will be the first country in the world to offer PCN services. The prominent international companies involved in both the successful and unsuccessful applicants attest to the position of this country as a world leader in mobile communications. The United Kingdom companies leading the consortia also make clear the strength of our own telecommunications sector. The quality of applications for these licences was

  463
  excellent, and I am sure that those we have selected will make PCNs a powerful competitive force in the telecommunications world of the 1990s.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many civil servants in his Department work(a) full time and (b) part time on (i) the film industry, (ii) the record industry, (iii) the publishing industry, (iv) the press, (v) the design industry, (vi) the fashion industry, (vii) leisure and (viii) tourism.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: The industries specified do not, in all cases, relate directly to the division of industry responsibilities within my Department. The responsibility for tourism rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. In total, approximately 28 staff are directly concerned with the industries listed and devote all or part of their time to them.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the expenditure by his Department in the last financial year on(a) the film industry, (b) the record industry, (c) the publishing industry. (d) the Press, (e) the design industry, (f) the fashion industry, (g) leisure and (h) tourism.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: In 1988–89 expenditure on the film industry was £2 million and expenditure in support of the Depatment's design policies was £7·8 million, mainly for grant in aid to the Design Council. The responsibility for tourism rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. My Department has no specific expenditure programme related to the other industries, although all companies eligible can apply for assistance under the Department's various initiatives and programmes.

  Government Shareholdings
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the shareholdings held by the Government in two categories(a) golden shares and (b) other shareholdings and give the percentage holding and the current market value in each case.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government hold special shares in the following companies, Mersey Docks and Harbour Company; Britoil; Cable and Wireless; Jaguar; Sealink; British Telecom; British Aerospace; VSEL Consortium; British Gas; Rolls-Royce; BAA; British Steel; Anglian Water; Northumbrian Water; North West Water; Severn Trent; South West Water; Southern Water; Thames Water; Welsh Water; Wessex Water; and Yorkshire Water.

  Details of the Government's other shareholdings are given in the "Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts 1987–88: Supplementary Statements" (HC59). The 1988–89 supplementary statements will be laid before the House on 18 December. The Government will retain residual shareholdings in each of the 10 water companies. Precise details of the numbers of those shares are not yet available. The current market value of the shareholdings can be established from the International Stock Exchange official list.
  464
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the amount of Government debt written off in each of the privatisations effected by Her Majesty's Government since 1979.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have been asked to reply.

  The normal practice on privatisation of a nationalised industry or company wholly or majority owned by Government is to repay, rather than write off debt. This repayment may be financed from the company's existing resources, the injection of new equity, or new debt finance. In some cases, the Government provide the finance to repay debts, for example, by an equity injection. Such finance is shown in the relevant departmental programme of the public expenditure White Paper. Subsequent sales of the Government's interests in a company are recorded in the privatisation programme in the PEWP.

  National loan fund debt has been formally written off only in the following privatisation cases:

  Year and company

  Amount £

  1980–81

  National Freight Corporation (under Section 45 of the Transport Act 1980)

  100,000,000

  1982–83

  British Transport Docks Board (under Section 6(1) of the Transport Act 1981)

  81,293,616

  1984–85

  British Telecom (BT (Extinguishment of Loans) Order 1982

  2,789,865,772

  1986–87

  BAA (under section 3 of the Airports Act 1986)

  43,503,340

  1989–90 Water Companies (under section 86 of the Water Act 1989)

  5,028,346,588

  These write-offs had no direct effect on public expenditure in as much as they represented a reconstruction of the balance sheets of the industries concerned. In each case, having had NLF debt written off, the successor company issued new securities to be held by the Secretary of State as assets of the consolidated fund pending realisation.

  Public dividend capital has been reduced in three privatisation cases:

  Year and Company

  Amount £

  1980–81

  British Airways Board (under the Civil Aviation Act 1980 Sl(l))

  160,000,000

  1980–81

  British Aerospace (under the British Aerospace Act 1980)

  60,000,000

  1988–89

  British Steel (under the British Steel Act 1988)

  500,000,000

  A further £3,480,000,000 of borrowing by British Steel under section 18(1) of the Iron and Steel Act 1982 was written off on privatisation.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  School Buses
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress of his review of school bus three-to-a-double-seat policy.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave my hon. Friend on 23 October.

  Magnet Schools, Bradford
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his replies of 5 December, whether Bradford local education authority informed him of its public statement announcing a postponement of the magnet schools programme; whether Bradford local education authority has indicated any intention of withdrawing supplementary bids linked to the development of magnet schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend is aware of the announcement made in October by Bradford LEA postponing its magnet schools programme. In subsequent discussions with officials of the Department, the LEA confirmed that it wished my right hon. Friend to proceed with his consideration of its supplementary bids for funds to support the programme, in preparation for a commencement in September 1991.

  Students' Awards
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will announce his decisions in respect of the levels for 1990–91 of students' maintenance awards, and of awards for mature students, and mature students' dependants allowances.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I intend to make an announcement at around the usual time.

  Peto Clinic, Budapest
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many British school children are currently undertaking training at the Peto clinic in Budapest; and how many of these are funded by their local education authority.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Open University (Vice-Chancellor)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to meet the new Vice-Chancellor of the Open University.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend and I met the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. John Horlock, on 30 November. His successor, Dr. John Daniel, now of Laurentian university in Canada, will not be in post until July 1990.

  Grant-Maintained Schools
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the number of schools which have been granted grant-maintained status, and the number of such applications so far received.
  466
  Mrs. Rumbold
  To date 51 schools have voted in favour of applying for grant-maintained status, of which 48 have so far published proposals. My right hon. Friend has taken decisions on 41 cases, of which 32 have been approved for grant-maintained status. Decisions on the remaining applications will be taken on their merits in due course.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish for consultation the draft order with attainment targets and programmes of study for English in the national curriculum for pupils aged eight to 16 years.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have today published for consultation a draft order with an associated document setting out the attainment targets and programmes of study for English in the national curriculum, as I am required to do by section 20(5) of the Education Reform Act. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is consulting on the draft order under the provisions of section 22(3) of the Act. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  The draft order relates to key stages 2 to 4—pupils aged eight to 16. The order for key stage 1 was laid before the House in May this year and took effect from September.

  The new draft order has been prepared in the light of advice from the National Curriculum Council, following its consultation on the Government's proposals published in June. I have accepted the council's recommendations for attainment targets and programmes of study in full. I believe that the draft order will be widely welcomed as providing a challenging framework for the raising of standards of English in our schools. The consultation period ends on 22 January 1990. I intend to make the final order in March 1990, in good time for implementation starting in the autumn.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students were recruited to courses of initial teacher training in the current year.

  Mr. MacGregor
  A survey undertaken by my Department shows that 21,757 students entered courses of initial teacher training in 1989, an increase of 1,574 over 1988. Recruitment to primary courses was 12·7 per cent. higher than last year. Intakes to secondary courses overall were 1·5 per cent. above last year, and intakes to science courses were 3·2 per cent. up on last year, although recruitment in the shortage secondary subjects continued to fall short of targets. I am placing the principal results of the survey in the Library.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made by the Student Loans Company Limited on preparatory work for the student loans scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Student Loans Company Limited has signed a contract with Electronic Data Systems (EDS) for the provision of the main administrative system for the student loans scheme. EDS was selected by the financial
  467
  institutions after an extensive evaluation of competing bids by an independent panel. As foreshadowed in the memorandum of understanding, my Department has contracted with the company for this purpose. My Department has also contracted with the company to fund items of miscellaneous expenditure required for preparatory work on the student loans scheme.

EMPLOYMENT

  Claimants
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many claimants have been issued with the explanatory warning letter when employment service staff have considered the claimant has not sufficiently actively sought work in each week from 9 October and for each region;

  National Monthly Return-Actively Seeking Referrals and Disallowances Refusal of Employment Referrals and Disqualifications Period ending: 27 October 1989

  Actively seeking employment

  Refusal of Employment

  Regions

  Claimants issued warning letters

  Claims referred to adjudication officer

  Allowed

  Disallowed

  Claims referred to adjudication officer

  Not disqualified

  Disqualified

  Northern

  44

  4

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  120

  12

  0

  0

  15

  2

  0

  East Midlands and Eastern

  68

  3

  2

  0

  13

  1

  0

  London and South East

  589

  53

  4

  3

  99

  2

  2

  South West

  99

  21

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Wales

  113

  18

  0

  1

  13

  0

  0

  West Midlands

  59

  6

  0

  0

  15

  0

  0

  North West

  112

  1

  0

  0

  9

  2

  1

  Scotland

  149

  4

  0

  0

  14

  2

  0

  National

  1,353

  122

  6

  4

  182

  9

  4

  Earnings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the increase in weekly and hourly earnings of full-time adult male manual workers in manufacturing and other full-time adult males not in the public sector in each year from 1979 to 1989.

  Percentage increase in weekly and hourly earnings of full-time adult male employees1

  Manual employees in manufacturing

  Non-manual employees not in public sector

  April of each year

  Weekly earnings per cent.

  Hourly earnings per cent.

  Weekly earnings per cent.

  Hourly earnings per cent.

  19802

  17·7

  20·1

  23·5

  23·4

  19812

  8·2

  11·9

  12·8

  14·4

  19822

  10·7

  10·2

  11·7

  11·7

  19833

  7·0

  7·3

  9·5

  9·2

  1984

  9·2

  7·5

  10·5

  10·3

  1985

  8·6

  8·0

  8·8

  7·9

  1986

  6·3

  6·4

  9·2

  9·8

  1987

  6·8

  6·3

  9·4

  9·3

  1988

  8·4

  7·1

  11·0

  10·4

  1989

  8·6

  8·0

  10·5

  10·4

  Notes:

  1 average gross weekly and hourly earnings, not affected by absence for those on adult rates; manufacturing as defined in the 1980 SIC (but see notes2 and3

  2 males aged 21 and over on all rates; 1968 SIC definition of manufacturing

  3 males aged 21 and over on all rates; 1980 SIC definition of manufacturing

  468
  (2) how many claimants have been referred to an adjudication officer, either directly or via an unemployment benefit office for failing to meet the actively seeking work requirement; how many claimants were (i) allowed, (ii) disallowed benefit or credits by the adjudication officer; and how many had benefits or credits suspended for each week from 9 October and for each region;

  (3) how many claimants have been referred to the adjudication officer, either directly or via the unemployment benefit office, for refusing employment and for whom a UB195 has been completed; and how many were (a) disqualified and (b) not disqualified from receiving benefits or credits for up to 26 weeks, for each week from 9 October and for each region.

  Mr. Eggar
  Figures in the precise form requested are not available. The table shows statistical information for the period 9 October to 27 October on questions of actively seeking and refusal of employment. Decisions outstanding as at 27 October will be recorded in the subsequent statistical returns.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information from the new earnings survey is provided in the table:
  469
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish tables showing for each standard region, Scotland and Wales the average gross weekly earnings and average gross hourly earnings of full-time employees on adult rates whose pay was unaffected by absence, males and females separately, analysed into the age groups; under 18 years, 18 to 20 years, 21 to 24 years, 25 to 29 years, 30 to 39 years, 40 to 49 years, 50 to 59 years, and 60 to 64 years, for each of the years 1979 and 1989 and in cash and real terms using April 1989 prices.

  Mr. Patrick Nicholls
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: Due to the extensive amount of information requested, I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report tables showing the proportion of (1) manual, (2) non-manual and (3) all full-time employees earning less than (a) £157, (b) £160, (c) £163, and (d) half average earnings a week, for (i) men, (ii) women and (iii) all full-time employees,

  Table 1

  Cumulative referrals from employment service to employment training: July 1989 to October 1989

  Employment service region

  July

  August

  September

  October

  London and South East

  16,000

  32,900

  52,400

  67,800

  South West

  3,400

  6,700

  10,900

  14,900

  West Midlands

  8,500

  16,600

  25,800

  33,500

  East Midlands and Eastern

  5,500

  11,100

  17,400

  22,400

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  7,700

  15,500

  24,000

  31,300

  North West

  12,600

  24,400

  38,200

  50,100

  Northern

  6,600

  13,300

  20,500

  27,000

  Wales

  5,000

  9,700

  16,000

  21,100

  Scotland

  10,300

  22,800

  36,600

  49,000

  Great Britain

  75,800

  153,000

  241,900

  317,100

  Table 2

  Cumulative employment training action plans at training agents July 1989 to November 1989

  Training agency region

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  South East

  3,500

  6,400

  10,000

  13,100

  15,700

  London

  4,200

  8,600

  13,600

  18,200

  22,900

  South West

  1,800

  3,600

  6,400

  8,600

  11,000

  West Midlands

  4,300

  8,200

  13,400

  17,600

  22,000

  East Midlands and Eastern

  3,100

  6,200

  9,200

  11,900

  14,900

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,700

  9,300

  15,600

  20,500

  25,400

  North West

  6,000

  11,600

  18,200

  24,500

  30,500

  Northern

  4,000

  7,900

  13,000

  17,400

  21,800

  Wales

  2,300

  4,500

  7,700

  10,500

  13,200

  Scotland

  4,500

  10,000

  16,400

  22,200

  28,100

  Great Britain

  38,200

  76,100

  123,800

  164,800

  205,800

  Table 3

  Cumulative starts at employment training managers: July 1989 to November 1989

  Training agency region

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  South East

  4,500

  6,400

  9,800

  12,300

  14,600

  London

  3,100

  5,800

  10,600

  14,000

  17,600

  South West

  1,500

  2,700

  5,000

  6,900

  8,600

  West Midlands

  3,300

  6,500

  11,000

  14,700

  18,500

  East Midlands and Eastern

  3,000

  5,500

  9,000

  11,800

  14,600

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  3,800

  7,300

  12,800

  17,400

  22,200

  North West

  5,300

  9,800

  16,000

  21,200

  26,800

  Northern

  3,600

  6,600

  11,500

  15,200

  18,900

  Wales

  2,700

  5,000

  8,700

  11,600

  14,200

  Scotland

  3,400

  7,900

  13,500

  18,300

  23,200

  Great Britain

  34,200

  63,500

  107,700

  143,200

  179,200

  470
  including overtime, shift and public borrowing requirement premia, in each county and standard economic region in England and in each London borough.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Due to the extensive amount of information requested, I will write to the hon. Member.

  Employment Training
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish up-to-date figures for Great Britain and each Training Agency region for each month since June, of the cumulative number of(a) referrals to employment training from the employment service to training agents, (b) agreed employment training action plans at training agents, (c) starts with employment training training managers, (d) the number in training on employment training each month and (e) the number on continuation training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information on referrals, action plans, starts and in-training figures is provided in the tables. Information is not separately available for those on continuation training.
  471

  Table 3

  Employment training filled places: July 1989 to November 1989

  Training agency region

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  South East

  14,500

  14,200

  14,900

  14,900

  14,800

  London

  19,000

  19,000

  20,200

  20,700

  21,100

  South West

  11,800

  11,500

  12,000

  12,300

  12,200

  West Midlands

  23,200

  23,600

  23,400

  23,200

  23,200

  East Midlands and Eastern

  16,400

  16,800

  16,900

  16,800

  16,800

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  25,200

  25,100

  25,200

  25,200

  25,200

  North West

  29,000

  28,700

  29,100

  28,800

  29,800

  Northern

  24,400

  24,700

  24,900

  24,300

  24,400

  Wales

  15,800

  16,000

  16,500

  16,600

  16,600

  Scotland

  23,700

  24,400

  25,100

  25,700

  26,400

  Great Britain

  203,000

  204,000

  208,000

  209,000

  212,000

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the destinations of all the people surveyed in the pilot survey of trainees who had left employment training; how many of the trainees contacted left employment training early; and whether he will place a copy of the full results of the pilot survey in the Library.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The destinations of people leaving employment training are many and varied. They include jobs, self-employment and other training or further education. Information is not available on the numbers to whom a questionnaire was sent who had left employment training early.

  The results of the pilot exercise will not be placed in the House of Commons Library. This exercise was primarily designed to test the questionnaire and the methodology of the 100 per cent. follow-up survey and does not form part of the now established ongoing evaluation of the programme.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what numbers of people moved from job clubs to (i) full time, and (ii) part-time employment in the period August 1988 to August 1989 in(a) Great Britain, (b) Tyne and Wear, (c) Gateshead, and (d) Newcastle.

  Mr. Eggar
  In the 12-month period 1 August 1988 to 28 July 1989, the total numbers of people leaving job clubs to go into employment were:

  Number

  (a) Great Britain

  70,814

  (b) Tyne and Wear

  2,316

  (c) Gateshead

  391

  (d) Newcastle

  508

  No statistics are available which differentiate between people going into full or part-time employment.

  Claimants (Questionnaire)
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment under what circumstances unemployed claimants who are studying part-time are asked to complete the questionnaire attached to ES notice 178/89 and distributed throughout the employment service; what plans he has to use such a standard questionnaire after March 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The questionnaire to which the hon. Lady refers has been used for some time where unemployed 472
  claimants are studying, or intending to study, part-time to establish whether they are available for employment. It will continue to be used for the foreseeable future.

  Mines (Health and Safety)
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that full consultation is undertaken by the Health and Safety Commission with the British Association of Colliery Managers and representatives of other professional and engineering staff in the coal industry before the proposed new regulations on the management of safety and health in mines and the proposed approved code of practice are considered by Ministers.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Commission has consulted widely with all interested parties and my right hon. Friend is satisfied that its procedures for consulting on proposals for regulations and approved codes of practice are satisfactory.

  YTS
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take action to ensure that trainees placed with companies through YTS have a choice of methods of wage or salary payment.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Training Agency, which administers YTS, already advises on methods of payment of training allowance to non-employed trainees, but the choice of method is the responsibility of the relevant managing agent. Arrangements for payment of wages or salary to employed trainees are the responsibility of the employer.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to prevent YTS trainees from being forced by employers to work overtime.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Under the terms of the YTS contract the attendance of non-employed YTS trainees for training is subject to a maximum of 40 hours per week, taking one week with another and excluding meal breaks. Attendance outside those hours is entirely a matter for negotiation between the training provider and the trainee, but cannot be required as a condition for the provision of training. The maximum hours of attendance for employed trainees are determined by their contracts of employment.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of employees in employment in Wales for each year since 1979–80 and what
  473
  is the percentage change between 1979 and the latest available year for (a) the whole economy, (b) the services sector and (c) the manufacturing sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Employees in Employment in Wales

  (Unadjusted for seasonal variation)

  (Thousands)

  (June each year)

  Employees in employment (whole economy)

  Employees in service sector(1)

  Employees in manufacturing (2)

  1979

  1,033

  572

  315

  1980

  1,005

  571

  290

  1981

  939

  562

  240

  1982

  906

  550

  226

  1983

  888

  552

  213

  1984

  886

  556

  212

  1985

  888

  561

  211

  1986

  887

  573

  210

  1987

  907

  590

  217

  1988

  948

  618

  233

  1989

  967

  634

  239

  1979–89

  Change

  -66

  62

  -76

  Percentage change

  -6·42

  10·85

  -24·15

  (1) 'Service sector' standard industrial classification 1980, divisions 6 to 9.

  (2) 'Manufacturing' standard industrial classification 1980, divisions 2 to 4.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish employment statistics, on a regular basis in the Employment Gazette, on the arts, cultural industries and the media.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: The Department's estimates of employment are categorised according to the 1980 standard industrial classification (SIC80). This classification does not specifically identify the arts, cultural industries and the media. However, quarterly estimates of employees in employment are published in table 1.4 of the Employment Gazette for SIC80 class 97 (recreational services and other cultural services). This class covers:
  Film production, distribution and exhibition;
  Radio and television services, theatres, etc;
  Authors, music composers and other own account artists, not elsewhere specified;

  Employees in employment (unadjusted for seasonal variations) Great Britain

  SIC80

  September 1987

  June 1989

  9711*

  Film Production, Distribution and Exhibition

  29·5

  113·7

  9760*

  Authors, Music Composers and other own account Artists, not elsewhere specified

  11·9

  9770*

  Libraries, Museums, Art Galleries etc.

  66·1

  9741

  Radio and Television Services, Theatres etc.

  75·9

  80·3

  9791

  Sport and other recreational services

  301·1

  325·6

  475

  Printing and Publishing1

  337·7

  344·9

  661,662,663

  Tourism related industries2

  1,283·3

  1,357·8

  665 667 977 979

  * The latest available figures for these industries separately are from the 1987 census of employment.

  1 Includes newspapers.

  2 Includes some industries listed above.

  474
  Mr. Patrick Nicholls
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: The number of employees in employment in Wales for the years requested is given in the table:

  Libraries, museums, art galleries, etc;
  Sport and other recreational services.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the current level of employment in(a) the arts, (b) crafts, (c) museums, (d) libraries, (e) heritage, (f) archaeology, (g) royal parks, (h) film and cinema, (i) the press, (j) broadcasting and video, (k) publishing, (l) fashion, (m) design, (n) sound recording, (o) leisure and (p) tourism.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: The Department's estimates of employment are categorised according to the 1980 standard industrial classification (SIC80). This classification does not specifically identify the industries requested. Detailed results for some of the industries are given by the 1987 census of employment and these are shown in the following table. Where more recent data are available, these are also shown in the table.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Data Protection Act (Registration Fee)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to reduce the registration fee required under the Data Protection Act; whether he will review the charges; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have no present plans to do so.

  Market Research
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many market research and sample surveys were carried out by or for his Department in the last 12 months; what was the cost of each; what was the total cost; how many were carried out in house; how many were carried out for his Department by outside organisations; and what percentage of the total expenditure was paid to outside organisations.

  Mr. Waddington
  Fifteen surveys which meet the description of sample population surveys rather than market research surveys were carried out for or by the Home Department in the past 12 months. The total cost was £419,100. Three surveys were carried out in house at a cost of £5,000. Seven projects were carried out by outside organisations on behalf of the research and planning unit (RPU), and one project for the statistical department. Four projects were commissioned by the Central Office of Information for the public relations branch. Ninety-nine per cent. of total expenditure (discounting associated internal management costs) was paid to outside organistions.

  Firearms
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants have handed in firearms for compensation under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988; how many weapons this covers; and how many applicants have been(a) paid and (b) refused.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A total of 2,896 applications in England and Wales have been submitted claims, in respect of 3,548 weapons, surrendered to the police or otherwise disposed of, for a payment under the Government buy-in scheme for weapons newly prohibited under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988.

  Of these applicants, 2,690 have had payments authorised and 71 have been refused as ineligible under the scheme; 135 claims have yet to be resolved.

  Broadwater Farm
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report on the reasons why the inquiry, conducted by the Police Complaints Authority, into the Broadwater Farm disturbances of 1985 has taken two and half years to complete.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Supervision of the investigation of complaints against the police is the responsibility of the Police Complaints Authority. The time elapsed is 476
  accounted for by the various stages in the process laid down in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. I understand that in this case the investigation, which was carried out by officers from the Metropolitan police under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority, was extremely detailed and wide ranging. All the papers were considered by the Police Complaints Authority to ensure that the investigation had been carried out to their satisfaction, and by the Crown prosecution service to establish whether criminal charges should be brought against any police officer. There then followed further consideration by the Police Complaints Authority of the proposals relating to disciplinary proceedings.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a date has yet been fixed for the disciplinary tribunal to hear charges against Detective Chief Superintendent Graham Melvin, arising out of his command of the Metropolitan police's investigation into the Broadwater Farm disturbances of 1985.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that no date has yet been set for the discipline hearing. The charges arose from the investigation into criticisms made by the judge at the trial of one of those arrested following the disturbances.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis as to why no black or minority ethnic press or media were represented in the media group that accompanied the police on the raid on Broadwater Farm on 29 September; what plans the police have for inviting the non-white press and media to accompany them on such raids in future: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The planning of such operations is a matter for the commissioner and his senior colleagues. Invitations to the media are an important part of the commissioner's policy of encouraging greater public understanding of police operations, and are an example o f the accountability of the police to the public. Decisions on representation on individual operations are taken in the light of circumstances and with a view to effective coverage for all parts of the community.

  Broadcasting Complaints Commission
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what in each year of its formation has been the annual cost of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission.

  Mr. Mellor
  Since the commission came into operation on 1 June 1981, its net expenditure for each financial year has been as follows:

  £

  1981–82

  97,956.13

  1982–83

  145,723.29

  1983–84

  150,638.00

  1984–85

  182,595.94

  1985–86

  172,711.54

  1986–87

  182,303.34

  1987–88

  200,320.90

  1988–89

  209,198.24

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is proposing to take to include provision for the deaf in his new Broadcasting Bill.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: The Government believe that it is important for there to be proper provision of broadcasting services for the deaf and hard of hearing. As a consequence, Channel 3 licence holders will, in the first year of the licence, be required to provide 10 per cent. more hours of subtitling than was achieved on average by the TV companies in the previous year. The Channel 5 licensee will have to provide a similar proportion of subtitled programmes. The ITC will thereafter set a reasonable target each year for an increase in subtitling on Channel 3 and 5 services.

  The BBC and Channel 4 will continue to be bound by public service commitments and therefore can be expected to continue to provide subtitling. The BBC is working towards the time when nearly all pre-recorded peak-time programmes will carry subtitles.

  European Community
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on EC document COM(89)524 published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 18 November.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: The Commission's proposals for a directive on voting rights for Community nationals in local elections were the subject of an explanatory memorandum submitted by the Home Office to the Select Committee on European Legislation on 17 October 1988, copies of which are available in the Library.

WALES

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the chairmen of health authorities in Wales; and what topics were discussed.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I last met the chairmen of Welsh health authorities on 15 May 1989, when we discussed the implementation of the proposals in the White Paper "Working for Patients".

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of council house sales in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  Between the introduction of our right-to-buy scheme and September 1989 about 74,000 council dwellings had been sold to sitting tenants in Wales. Owner-occupation now stands at 70 per cent.

  Heartbeat Wales
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement in the progress of the Heartbeat Wales campaign.

  Mr. Grist
  Heartbeat Wales, run by the Health Promotion Authority for Wales, continues its programme 478
  to combat the high incidence of coronary heart disease in Wales. Evaluation of the project will begin next year, but interim sample surveying has shown encouraging trends in risk behaviour patterns. The authority was recently visited by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister who was most impressed by the authority's work.

  Gynaecological Services
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the availability of gynaecological services in rural Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The availability of gynaecological services to the residents of rural Wales is a matter for the relevant district health authorities.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement indicating the level of community charge and non-domestic rates in Wales for the next financial year.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  On present plans I will be laying the necessary reports and making a statement about the 1990–91 local authority grant settlement before Christmas. The House will have the opportunity to consider the issues then, and to debate the reports early in the new year.

  National Health Service
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the present state of the National Health Service in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The NHS in Wales is treating and caring for more people than ever before, as a result of the efforts of all who work in the service to make the best use of the record levels of resources that we are providing. By 1990–91 funding for the NHS in Wales will have increased by nearly a half in real terms since 1978–79.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received in favour of his Government's proposals for reform of the National Health Service.

  Mr. Grist
  My right hon. Friend and I have received a considerable number of written representations from the medical, nursing and other health professions, from other interested bodies and organisations and from members of the public, supporting the objectives for the further improvement of the NHS in Wales set out in the White Paper "Working for Patients" (Cm. 555) which are to improve the management and effectiveness of the NHS and thus to improve patient care.

  We have also had extensive detailed discussions with the health authorities, family practitioner committees and representatives of the medical and nursing professions and others working in the NHS which have shown a substantial degree of support for our objectives. In particular there is support for the introduction of assurance control in all hospital and general practice, including medical audit; the distribution of resources to ensure that money follows the patient and an end to the so-called "efficiency trap"; investment in up-to-date information systems to ensure that the maximum health care is provided from available resources; and indicative

  479
  drug budgets which will not infringe in any way the right of a GP to prescribe all those medicines which individual patients need.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much inward investment has taken place in Wales over the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  In the five-year period to the end of 1988, a total of 258 individual overseas investment projects were secured in Wales promising over 31,000 jobs. 1988 was a record year in which Wales received 22 per cent. of the new jobs associated with inward investment to the United Kingdom. The associated capital investment for that year was over £1 billion.

  Income
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to increase per capita income in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Per capita income in Wales will continue to rise as more people in the Principality secure quality jobs in modern, competitive industries and services. The Government's policies by encouraging indigenous enterprise, promoting inward investment and modernising the existing industrial base are directed to that end.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest unadjusted figures for unemployment in(a) Newport, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales; and if he will give the equivalent figures for 1979 on the most nearly comparable basis.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  On 12 October 1989 the numbers of unemployment claimants in the Newport district, Gwent and Wales were 4,602, 13,797, and 86,514 respectively. Unadjusted figures for 1979 are not available on a basis that enables a valid comparison to be made.

  Waste
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy towards the dumping of mixed toxic and household waste in sites in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  Such deposit is an acceptable disposal route given suitable site conditions where specified by a waste disposal authority in a waste disposal licence issued under the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

  South Glamorgan Health Authority
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the chairman of the South Glamorgan health authority; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Grist
  My right hon. Friend met the chairman of South Glamorgan health authority in his capacity as chairman of the Welsh health authorities chairmen's group on 7 November 1989. We discussed the financial positions of health authorities in Wales.

  East Dyfed Health Authority
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on current financing difficulties facing East Dyfed health authority and other health authorities in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  I have been fully briefed on the financial position of health authorities in Wales as a result of my Department's annual round of review meetings with authorities in September and a meeting which my right hon. Friend had with the chairman of the Welsh health authorities chairmen's committee on 7 November.

  Flint Bypass
  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his decision to call in the application by Clwyd county council for planning permission to construct a bypass road for Flint.

  Mr. Grist
  The application raises issues of more than local importance and my right hon. Friend decided, therefore, to call it in for his decision. Arrangments are being made for an inspector to hold a public local inquiry and my right hon. Friend will arrive at his decision on the application as soon as possible after the inquiry has closed.

  Area Health Authorities
  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the chairmen of area health authorities in Wales; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I last met the chairmen of Welsh health authorities on 15 May 1989, when we discussed the implementation of the proposals in the White Paper "Working for Patients".

  Homelessness
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assesment he has made of the adequacy of homelessness statistics produced by local councils in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  Homelessness returns were reviewed and extended in 1987 to provide a wider range of information on homelessness in the Principality. Additional guidance was given to local authorities to improve consistency in their recording practices and further consideration may be given to the return in the light of the measures I am introducing to tackle homelessness.

  It is essential that vigorous efforts should be maintained to help those who are entitled to assistance in securing a home under part III of the Housing Act 1985, in Wales as elsewhere. The Act remains important as a long-stop measure to help people in need who have become homeless through no fault of their own. This was implicit in the recent review of homelessness legislation.

  In large part, the review deals with the situation arising in London and the south-east of England. In Wales, the pressures are comparatively less intense. Detailed statistical information on homelessness in the Principality is given in section 7 of "Welsh Housing Statistics, No. 9, 1989"—a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. These data show that the problems associated with homelessness vary in extent between districts. They are not

  481
  confined to any one specific area: they should certainly be considered together with wider issues in the development of effective housing strategies, both locally and at the all-Wales level. Indeed, in that context, the review makes some very important comments on lessons and conclusions for the future. I hope that all those concerned with housing in the Principality will take note of them. Arrangements have already been made for copies of the review to be distributed widely in Wales. But as regards substantive action, we shall: carry out a separate consultation in Wales on measures of guidance for local authorities, to secure a better, more consistent service for homeless people in Wales under the Housing Act 1985; as announced, allow for an increase in gross provision of £30 million for local authority capital expenditure on housing in the next financial year, with no limit on expenditure for certain home renovation grants, against the £197 million in 1989–90. This increased provision will be of general assistance to local authorities, not least in carrying out their statutory responsibilities in securing accommodation for homeless people, in close liaison with all housing providers, whilst taking account of their own local needs and priorities.

  We shall also encourage local authorities to make use of a new cash incentive scheme to help council tenants buy homes elsewhere, so releasing homes to let to the homeless —details of the scheme will be announced very soon—and introduce new measures to assist local authorities to build on improvements they have already made in the management of their own stock, for example over the management of "voids" in Wales, to enhance customer care, to target resources still more effectively and to develop partnership arrangements for the provision of homes for homeless people. The impetus for this work has been given by the "quality circle initiative" sponsored by the Secretary of State and the Council of Welsh Districts. It will take account of recently published studies on good practice in housing management, including those of the Audit Commission, and will include consultation with local authorities on the introduction of performance indicators, and on the development and refinement of operationally useful data. It will be supported by an increase of over 30 per cent. in funding for my Department's successful management education and training programmes which benefit all housing providers—and for which the budget will substantially exceed three quarters of a million pounds for the first time in 1990–91.

  We shall ensure that additional weighting is given to practical schemes to alleviate homelessness in approving bids for the urban programme 1990–91—a sum of around £1 million will be released by that route next year—and assist housing associations to extend substantially their current commitment to tackling homelessness. Provision for Housing for Wales has been raised by some £27 million for 1990–91—an increase of 40 per cent. compared with 1989–90. This will stimulate a major increase in the provision of dwellings for which homeless families will be eligible. Housing for Wales is already working with local authorities to devise joint strategies to deal with the most pressing priorities within each district. The next step is to secure nomination arrangements to help local authorities in getting homeless families housed. Housing for Wales will be monitoring the performance of housing associations in realising the benefits of this significant new approach.
  482
  We shall pursue the possibility of introducing a cash incentive scheme to help housing association tenants move into the private sector, thereby releasing those properties to let for homeless families, and substantially increase the planned availability of central funding for those voluntary organisations in Wales that have the capacity to be of real help in dealing with homelessness. Next year we shall significantly more than double the £143,000 made available to this sector in 1989–90. In addition, my officials will initiate discussions with voluntary bodies about the best way of building upon the wide range of high-quality services that these organisations already provide—especially in matching those who need accommodation with those who can offer it, for example through the organisation of lodging schemes in co-operation with local authorities.

  We shall ensure that special attention is paid to the needs of Wales in relation to the development of a comprehensive advice service for people in the early stages of housing problems, and initiate further discussions on the implementation of the new structure for promoting mobility between local authority and housing association sectors within the Principality.

  We shall also give priority to issues of homelessness in deploying resources available from the Department's housing top slice. For the coming financial year, £2 million has been set aside. Bids will be invited in advance of the HSIP round for 1990–91. This will extend the arrangement made for 1989–90 involving the allocation of around £1 million for areas experiencing particular difficulties.

  I am confident that, taken together, these measures will be of very considerable assistance in dealing constructively with issues of homelessness within the Principality both now and for the future. At a time when we in Wales have a growing population and increasing numbers of households—when indeed, we have more people, better housed than ever before, for the most part in their own homes, it is all the more essential that we tackle homelessness positively and with the utmost care.

  Market Research
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many market research and sample surveys were carried out by or for his Department in the last 12 months; what was the cost of each; what was the total cost; how many were carried out in-house; how many were carried out for his Department by outside organisations; and what percentage of the total expenditure was paid to outside organisations.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  My Department undertakes a wide range of regular surveys. An analysis of these to provide the information required would be disproportionately costly. On the basis of the information identified in the time available, there have been nine one-off market research and sample surveys either undertaken or commissioned solely and directly by my Department in 1989—two of which were conducted in-house, the remaining seven by outside organisations. The individual costs were:

  £

  70,000

  5,000

  14,650

  1,730

  483

  £

  2,450

  4,194

  12,678

  2,075

  88,353

  TOTAL

  201,130

  Of this total, 83 per cent. was paid to outside organisations.

  Holiday Homes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to ensure that the new house repairs and renovation grant system is sufficiently tightly drawn to avoid grant money being used for improvement of holiday homes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The conditions in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 on owner-occupation and availability for letting will enable local authorities to ensure that grant money is not used for second or holiday homes.

  Poultry Flocks
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many premises in each county of Wales require inspection under the provisions of the testing of poultry flocks orders.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The number of main agriculture holdings in each county in Wales in 1988 where 25 or more domestic fowls were kept to produce eggs for human consumption, and the number of breeding premises and hatcheries subject to testing was:

  Laying flocks

  Breeding flocks

  Hatcheries

  Wales

  1,190

  60

  3

  Powys

  197

  9

  1

  Gwynedd

  208

  13

  1

  Dyfed

  342

  17

  1

  Clwyd

  170

  12

  —

  South Glamorgan

  37

  —

  —

  Mid Glamorgan

  51

  2

  —

  West Glamorgan

  45

  2

  —

  Gwent

  140

  5

  —

  The Poultry Laying Flocks (Testing and Registration) Order 1989 also requires the testing of laying flocks of less than 25 birds if the eggs are sold for human consumption. Information is not available on how many of the 4,876 main holdings in Wales where fewer than 25 hens are kept sell some or all of their eggs for human consumption; nor is information available on minor holdings which might be affected.

TRANSPORT

  Speed Restraints
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list his criteria for speed humps, rumble strips and road-narrowing measures in residential areas; and if he will make a statement.
  484
  Mr. Atkins
  Specific provisions for road humps are contained in the Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1986 SI.1986 No. 1856, and detailed guidance on them was published in traffic advisory leaflet 3/87. We are consulting on revised regulations aimed at allowing road humps to be installed more widely. The Department has drawn attention to a number of other traffic calming measures in traffic advisory leaflet 1/87. Standards and criteria have not been laid down. Decisions on when and where to install such traffic calming measures are for individual highway authorities to take. Copies of SI.1856 and supporting publications have been placed in the Library.

  British Rail
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Irvine),Official Report, column 4, of 4 December 1989, he will make a statement on how much of the investment in British Rail over the next three years will be spent on the East Suffolk line from Lowestoft to Ipswich and the Wherry line from Lowestoft to Norwich.

  Mr. Portillo
  It is for British Rail to decide the detailed allocation of resources. I understand that British Rail plans to invest at least £1 million in infrastructure on these routes over the next three years. The region will also benefit from wider programmes of investment in new rolling stock.

  Buses
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the suitability of the height and design of the steps of the Volvo double deck buses to be leased on to the LBL, London General Bus subsidiary to provide adequate access for women with young children, the elderly and people with walking disabilities.

  Mr. Atkins
  Bus design is generally a matter for bus operators. I understand that these buses comply with design standards laid down by London Regional Transport. The Department takes every opportunity to remind the bus industry of the special needs of elderly and disabled passengers. We recently launched a video which demonstrates the features recommended by the disabled persons transport advisory committee in its "Recommended Specification for Buses Used to Operate Local Services". The video is now available on free loan to local authorities and bus operators.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will instruct LRT to stop the further tendering of further bus routes to those companies which have failed to fulfil their contractual obligations in the past and had routes taken away from them as a consequence.

  Mr. Portillo
  The tendering of bus routes and the selection of contractors is a matter for London Regional Transport. I understand that, in assessing bids, it takes account of the operators' previous performance.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the proportion of LBL buses running late during the current year over previous years; and what steps he has taken to improve the quality of service to the public.
  485
  Mr. Portillo
  Statistics for London Regional Transport's timetable bus services for the first three quarters of 1989 show that there was an 18 per cent. chance of a bus departing between five and 15 minutes late, and an 11·5 per cent. chance of a bus departing more than 15 minutes late or not arriving. This compares with 19·5 per cent. and 10·5 per cent. respectively for the same period in 1988. My right hon. Friend will shortly be setting quality of service objectives for LRT's bus and railway activities.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the numbers of accidents involving PSV vehicles in London in each of the last five years; and how many of these accidents involved buses with fewer than 24 seats.

  Mr. Portillo
  The number of accidents involving PSV vehicles in the Greater London area during the last five years is as follows. The seating capacity of buses in accidents is not recorded on the STATS 19 accident report form.

  Year

  Number of accidents

  1984

  3,553

  1985

  3,326

  1986

  3,226

  1987

  2,920

  1988

  2,993

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to regrade the designed construction of mini-midi buses to provide greater passenger safety.

  Mr. Atkins
  All buses, including mini and midi-sized buses, are subject to construction regulations to ensure adequate passenger safety.

  The European Commission has announced an intention to make a directive next year to cover the construction of buses, including coaches and minibuses. We have pressed, and shall continue to press, for that directive to contain provisions that set a high standard of safety. We are particularly concerned to ensure that seat belts of good quality, which are simple to use and have retractor mechanisms, are specified for all seats in minibuses and coaches.

  We also want to see that steps and hand rails are specified which will make it easier for elderly people to get on and off buses safely.

  I very much hope that manufacturers and operators will now voluntarily provide these simple and obvious safety features, without having to wait for legislation.

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further negotiations his Department has had on additional transatlantic flights to and from Manchester airport; what has been the outcome; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Negotiations were held with the United States between 29 November and I December. The United Kingdom is seeking a balanced expansion of opportunities for the airlines on both sides to enable additional transatlantic services to be introduced to serve Manchester airport. Arrangements are in hand to resume these talks in the near future.

  Random Breath Tests
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received in favour of the introduction of random breath tests.

  Mr. Atkins
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary invited representations in a consultation paper earlier this year and most comments for and against will have been directed to him. Since April the Department have received some 25 representations in favour of introduction.

  Railway Closures
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many stations and railway lines closed in the 1960s and 1970s have been reopened.

  Mr. Portillo
  Approximately 70 stations and 24 stretches of line. In addition since 1978 BR has opened 106 new stations and constructed seven new lines.

  Oil Discharges
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of alleged illegal discharges of oil from non-United Kingdom ships in United Kingdom waters have been passed since 1978 to the flag states of the vessels concerned.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Figures prior to 1985 are not readily available. Since then eight cases of possible illegal oil discharges by non-United Kingdom ships in United Kingdom waters have been referred to the competent authorities in the relevant flag states for investigation.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has agreed British Rail's proposals for investment in rolling stock for Channel tunnel rail services.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I am pleased to announce today my approval of British Rail's proposals for investment totalling more than £350 million for the purchase of trains to run from 1993 between London and Paris and London and Brussels. This represents British Rail's share of the combined passenger fleet of 30 trains which will be using the tunnel from June 1993. It amounts to a major investment in the provision of rail services through the Channel tunnel. It is another important step towards achieving the goal of London-Paris and London-Brussels direct train services. I look forward to receiving further investment proposals from British Rail for the rolling stock required for passenger services beyond London and for freight services.

  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the terms and scope of the contract between British Rail and Trafalgar house with regard to the Channel tunnel link and with regard to international traffic on existing or improved rail routes; if he will arrange for a copy of the contract or of the heads of agreement to be placed in the Library; and if he will describe the respective roles of the contracting parties if the high speed link should not proceed.

  Mr. Portillo
  These matters are currently being negotiated between British Rail and their private sector
  487
  partners. Some of the terms may require my right hon. Friend's approval: others may be confidential to the parties.

  Public Appointments
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many persons above the age of(a) 60, (b) 65 and (c) 70 years he has appointed to public bodies in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information requested is not held centrally. It could be provided, if at all, only at disproportionate cost. However, I can assure my hon. Friend that we endeavour to appoint members from as broad a range of age groups as possible.

  M1 (Improvements)
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how long he expects the interim improvement scheme at junction 21 of the M 1 motorway to last; what will it cost; and when he expects the full widening and junction improvements at junction 21 to be done and completed; and at what cost.

  Mr. Atkins
  The interim improvement of junction 21 would accommodate normal traffic growth until the late 1990s. However, proposals for major developments close to the junction could reduce this by about five years. The interim improvement is intended to relieve congestion and improve safety for motorway traffic. The estimated cost is £1·008 million.

  The long-term improvement of junction 21 is part of the scheme for widening and junction improvements on the M l included in the White Paper "Roads for Prosperity". The known pressures at the junction will be monitored and taken into account in assessing the timing of the junction 21 element of this major project. The budget cost of the long-term improvement is £10 million, although the eventual cost will depend on a layout to be determined from further detailed traffic and economic analysis.

  Traffic Delay (London)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state, or take steps to ascertain, the approximate proportion of incidents of traffic delay in the Greater London area occasioned by(a) illegal parking, (b) traffic light faults, (c) shed loads, (d) vehicle breakdowns, (e) accidents, (f) road repairs, (g) water main bursts, (h) demonstrations or marches, (i) official events and (j) bomb alerts; and if he will name the agency or body from which he has obtained, or can obtain such information and indicate the manner in which such information is, or could be, made available to the public on a periodic basis.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Metropolitan police have set up a working party with the traffic control systems unit for London to review contingency plans for blockages at vital junctions. It will be for them to consider whether it would be worth while to collect, monitor and publish the causes of congestion in the way the hon. Member suggests.

  London Underground (Delays)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he possesses, or regularly receives, concerning delays on London Underground 488
  services caused by (a) shortage of staff, (b) signal failure, (c) non-availability of rolling stock, (d) mechanical or electrical failure, (e) fire or (f) other causes.

  Mr. Portillo
  I receive regular reports on overall quality of service, including punctuality and reliability. Day-to-day operations are a matter for London Underground Limited, which records individual delays and their causes.

  Road Use (Smart Pricing)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to hold a meeting with transport researchers at the Open university's energy and environment research unit to evaluate the technical prospects of smart pricing for road use.

  Mr. Atkins
  My right hon. Friend does not plan to do so at present.

  Hazardous Cargoes
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider making it necessary for all road tankers carrying dangerous chemicals to be fitted with external warning lights whilst in transit.

  Mr. Atkins
  Road tankers are already required to be clearly marked to indicate when they are carrying dangerous substances. There are no plans to impose additional requirements.

  A45 (Accidents)
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of accidents reported to the police on that section of the A45 between the Westley roundabout to the west and Rookery crossroads to the east of Bury St. Edmunds during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

  Mr. Atkins
  In 1988, the last full year for which records are available, the number of injury accidents on this length of road was 12, including one fatal accident, and the number of non-injury accidents was seven.

  Roads
  Mr. Terry Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will deposit in the Library a scale map of the proposed Greater Manchester western and northern relief road M6 to M66, as shown in diagrammatic form in the White Paper, "Roads for Prosperity."

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 8 December 1989]: The Greater Manchester western and northern relief road is being dealt with in three sections. We have announced a proposed route for the southern section between the M6 and the M56. I shall arrange for a copy of the plan to be placed on deposit in the Library. Consultants are currently investigating solutions for the northern section of the road between the M62 and M66 motorways and we have recently appointed consultants for the centre section between the M56 and M62.

  Mr. Terry Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will seek the views of the public on possible routes for the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road, M6 to M66.
  489
  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 8 December 1989]: We are currently consulting the public on a proposed route for the southern section of the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road between the M6 and M56 motorways. Work on the remaining lengths between the M56 and M66 motorways is at an early stage. It is too soon to say when we shall be able to seek the views of the public.

ENVIRONMENT

  Commons Crypt (Baptismal Font)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the fabric of the baptismal font in Welsh marble in the Commons Crypt was last inspected.

  Mr. Christopher Chope
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Market Research
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many market research and sample surveys were carried out by or for his Department in the last 12 months; what was the cost of each; what was the total cost; how many were carried out in house; how many were carried out for his Department by outside organisations; and what percentage of the total expenditure was paid to outside organisations.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  In the past year, 25 market research and sampling surveys (excluding those connected with water privatisation) have been carried out for my Department at total cost of around £1 million. A further six projects were carried out in house. These figures include sample surveys of businesses and local authorities, as well as of members of the general public.

  The cost of individual contracts are a matter of commercial confidentiality, and those of in-house surveys cannot be given except at disproportionate cost. The costs of water privatisation will be announced to Parliament in due course in the usual way.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the approximate breakdown of the expected expenditure by the London Docklands development corporation of £1,100 million and the amount and breakdown of private investment in the area over the next five years.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The London Docklands development corporation's broad expenditure plans and forecast of private investment in its area are given in its recently published 1989 corporate plan, copies of which are in the Library.

  Housing Tenancies
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new tenancies have entered the private sector of the housing market since the introduction of assured tenancies under the Housing Act 1988; and how many of them are part of a business expansion scheme.

  Mr. Howard
  Information on the number of assured tenancies created under the Housing Act 1988 is not yet 490
  available. However, initial impressions are very encouraging. In particular it is estimated that more than £350 million has been invested in business expansion scheme companies letting on assured tenancies. With an average price of £50,000 per property, that means an extra 6,000 to 7,000 homes available for letting.

  Local Authority Dwellings
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total value of dwellings owned by local authorities calculated on the basis of 1988–89 right-to-buy sales and the total loan debt outstanding on these local authority dwellings.

  Mr. Howard
  The Government do not possess figures on the value of dwellings in local authority ownership. Under part VI of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, in determining housing revenue account subsidy, the Secretary of State may infer aggregate values of houses and other property within local authorities' housing revenue account from the average values of any of the houses and other property they have disposed of. The Department of the Environment is currently consulting local housing authorities in England on the figures for the subsidy determination for 1990–91.

  The total outstanding loan debt on dwellings in local authority ownership for 1988–89 as reported to the Department of the Environment by local authorities was £23·1 billion.

  Residuary Bodies
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many transactions have taken place between residuary bodies and local authorities, where assets previously owned by those local authorities have been purchased, in order for those successor authorities to carry out their functions; and what is the value of these transactions.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Residuary body property required by local authorities for the purpose of carrying out their functions is transferred to them at nil cost by statutory order. There have been 25 orders transferring residuary body property since 1986. Authorities can also purchase surplus residuary body property at market value. Information on the number and total value of properties acquired by local authorities is not centrally available.

  West Yorkshire Residuary Body
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking on the representations made to him by Wakefield Civic Society, concerning the future of land currently the responsibility of the West Yorkshire residuary body.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Department replied to the letter from the Wakefield Civic Society on 6 December. I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total capital value of assets disposed of by(a) West Yorkshire residuary body and (b) all residuary bodies since the abolition of metropolitan county councils.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Total capital receipts from property disposals by the residuary bodies up to 30 November 1989 are as follows:
  491

  £million

  London

  605·10

  Greater Manchester

  23·04

  Merseyside

  7·50

  South Yorkshire

  13·70

  Tyne and Wear

  13·10

  West Midlands

  30·30

  West Yorkshire

  30·00

  TOTAL

  722·74

  Waste Paper
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take to assist charities and other bodies who are in financial difficulties because of the collapse of the market in waste paper.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government have no plans to intervene in this way.

  Recycling
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is considering setting up a recycling agency to advise charities and other bodies on suitable materials to collect for recycling.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Since 1987 my Department has supported Waste Watch, a voluntary organisation based at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). It offers advice and training on recycling to voluntary and other bodies. My hon. Friend the Minister for Environment and Countryside recently launched the national directory of recycling information compiled by Waste Watch.

  Runhag
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will approve the transfer of the new town housing at Runcorn to the housing associations known collectively as Runhag.

  Mr. Chope
  The Commission for the New Towns has asked for my approval to transfer about 7,000 dwellings at Runcorn to the five housing associations in Runhag. I have considered the views of tenants expressed in the recent ballot and the terms and conditions of the proposed transfer. I am satisfied that the terms are reasonable and that tenants want the relevant member of Runhag to be their new landlord. I have therefore approved the transfer. I understand that the transfer will take place today.

  I am delighted that the new town tenants have voted in favour of transferring to the housing associations. I know that this vote was the culmination of over two years hard effort by Runhag and the New Town Residents Federation to achieve transfer on the best terms possible for existing tenants. I am very grateful for their perseverence and commitment.

  Ministerial Visit
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the purpose of the visit to Holmewood estate, Bradford, by his Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on Wednesday 15 November; what was the cost; what meetings were held and with whom on that date; and if he will make a statement.
  492
  Mr. Chope
  On 15 November I visited the Holmewood estate and several other inner-city housing schemes in Bradford, improvements to which my Department has helped fund. The purpose of my visit was to see the work that has been done so far, to learn the extent of remaining problems and to listen to the views of residents. The total cost of the visit, for myself and my private secretary, was £240 approximately. At Holmewood I had a meeting with local community representatives, council members and officers. I also visited a housing association scheme at Grosvenor road where I met residents and representatives from the housing association. I was encouraged by the progress being made in Bradford in improving existing housing estates and developing new homes in the inner city.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to bring to the attention of the public and Parliament the contents of, and summarised information arising from, the proposed local non-domestic rating lists required to be deposited with local authorities by 31 December, with particular reference to (i) his estimated dates of such depositing, (ii) his estimated dates of press releases from his Department or the Inland Revenue, (iii) his plans to notify individual ratepayers of the proposed valuations and (iv) any statement he might make to Parliament before or after the Christmas recess.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The valuation office will send the new draft rating lists to local authorities on 20 December. Authorities are required by the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to deposit the lists and to give notice that they have done so as soon as reasonably practicable after their receipt. Ratepayers will be informed of their rateable values when rate bills for 1990–91 are sent out, but meanwhile the draft lists will be available for public inspection at the offices of local authorities and of the valuation office. I shall send to all ratepayers an explanation of the new rating system, but it will not be possible to include individual rateable values. I shall make available to Parliament and publish an analysis of the effects of the uniform business rate and of revaluation as soon as the necessary information is available.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the expected yield from non-domestic rates in 1989–90 in England; and what are the adjustments that have to be made to this figure to allow a proper comparison to be made with the NNDR distributive amount of £10,428·5 million for 1990–91.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has not yet replied to the letter to him dated 31 July from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to a complaint by Mr. R. Gorman of 14 Welby street, Manchester and if he will now reply.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I wrote to the right hon. Member on 14 October and apologised on that occasion for the delay in replying.

  Groundwork Foundation
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 7 December, when the Groundwork Foundation submitted an application to Bradford council; on what date the meeting between an officer of the Groundwork Foundation, Councillor Pickles and council officials took place; what the trust to be established in Bradford in 1990–91 will do during that period; and how much grant it will receive from Bradford council.

  Mr. Trippier
  An officer of the Groundwork Foundation met Councillor Pickles on 27 April 1989 and had meetings with Bradford council officials between February and June 1989. Subsequently on 10 July Bradford's policy and resources committee resolved to support in principle the establishment of a Groundwork Trust in the city. The council has allocated £40,000 for the project in its 1990–91 budget. It is understood that the preparation of a firm proposal for the trust is at present in hand.

  Mersey Basin
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the environment how much the Mersey basin campaign unit in Manchester has cost his Department to run for every year since 1984.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: The Mersey campaign unit works alongside a range of other bodies—public, private and voluntary—on both the
  494
  water quality and landward aspects of the Mersey basin campaign; and supports the campaign chairman, whose post is an honorary unsalaried appointment.

  The unit's staff costs are:

  Year

  £

  1987–88

  100,399

  1988–89

  115,668

  1989–90

  121,981

  The figures for earlier years are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Palace of Westminster
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate information about the scope for energy conservation in the Palace of Westminster is available to all those who work there.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 8 December 1989]: The Parliamentary Works Office regularly advises Members and staff of the House about the operation of the heating controls in offices and committee rooms. Occupants are expected to adopt a common sense approach towards the use of electric lighting but the staff of the Parliamentary Works Office have a continuing brief to switch off unnecessary lights as they go about their business around the Palace of Westminster. The security staff who patrol the Palace are also asked to switch off lights left on in empty rooms.

  Greenhouse Effect
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on current developments in eastern Europe as they affect policies to mitigate greenhouse global warming.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 8 December 1989]: We believe that international action is essential for an effective response to global warming. Several countries from eastern Europe already participate in the work of the inter-governmental panel on climate change, and we would welcome any increased involvement by eastern European countries in this work whether that resulted from the changes those countries are undergoing or any other reason.

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further progress he has made with the water share offers.

  Mr. Howard
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1989, c. 3]: The water share offers closed on 6 December. The United Kingdom public offers were 5.7 times subscribed in aggregate, triggering both overseas and institutional clawback in each of the offers. This represents a very satisfactory outcome.

  I have placed in the Library of the House details of the allocation of shares to applicants.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Poland
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to make available resources, scientific expertise and technology through the Overseas Development Administration to Poland, for the purposes of environmental protection and pollution clean-up.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We plan to discuss with the Polish authorities their general requirements for assistance including, where appropriate, measures to improve the environment. We have also sent a reconnaissance mission to look at the electricity generation sector, and the report will, inter alia, consider the environmental effects of the operation of the electricity utility.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the £50 million aid package to Poland is repayable.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None.

  Middle East
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to invite the chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation to visit the United Kingdom for talks on the middle east peace process.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has at present no plans to do so.
  496
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last held and when he next intends to hold a meeting with the United States Secretary of State to discuss the situation in the middle east.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed a wide range of issues with Mr. Baker earlier today.

  Israel
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government monitor abuses of human rights in the Israeli-occupied west bank and Gaza strip; and whether Her Majesty's Government intend to discuss such matters with the Israeli Government.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We follow closely reports of human rights abuses in the occupied territories and take every opportunity to remind the Israeli authorities of their obligation to administer the occupied territories in accordance with international law and human rights standards.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will press Israel to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation and accept its offer of negotiations to settle the Palestine problem.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have repeatedly urged the Israelis over the last year to recognise that it is in their own interests to test the PLO's new policy of moderation in face-to-face negotiations.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will press the United Nations Security Council to condemn Israel for its present stance in refusing to negotiate with the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No.

  PLO
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to meet senior officers of the Palestine Liberation Organisation to discuss the Palestine Liberation Organisation's position regarding peace in the middle east.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no such plans at present. But we maintain regular contact with senior members of the PLO.

  Sarawak
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what studies he has made of the situation of indigenous peoples of the rain forests of Sarawak; what were the results of such studies; what representations he has made to the Government of Malaysia; and what response he has had.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have noted reports of the arrest of nomadic Penan tribespeople for blockading logging roads.
  497
  The Malaysian authorities are aware of international interest in the effects of deforestation on the global environment and on tribespeople. We have expressed concern to the Malaysian authorities, who state that their aim is to resettle the Penans and provide education, health care and an improved quality of life.

  Combat Aircraft
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 November,Official Report, column 99, what categories of aircraft are included under the definition of combat aircraft.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The definition proposed on 13 July by allied negotiators for the purpose of the CFE negotiations for combat aircraft is as follows:"a fixed-wing or swing-wing aircraft permanently land-based of a type initially constructed or later converted to drop bombs, deliver air-to-air or air-to-surface missiles, fire guns/cannons, or employ any other weapons of destruction. Any permanently land-based version or variant of these aircraft which has been modified to perform another military function is also included. An aircraft type should not, however, be included unless a combat variant of the type concerned exists within the ATTU area in the armed forces of a member state of the same treaty of alliance to which the participating state owning the aircraft belongs."

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what additional categories of aircraft have been included in the overall figure for combat aircraft given in the Official Report, 27 November, column 99, additional to those given in "Conventional Forces in Europe: The Facts".

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Those of aircraft in storage, together with versions and variants of combat aircraft which have been modified to perform another military function, such as training.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the reasons for the differences between the figures for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation combat aircraft in the region from the Atlantic to the Urals(a) provided in "Conventional Forces in Europe: The Facts", and (b) upon which North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has based its arms proposal to the conventional forces in Europe talks in Vienna; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Because in their proposal at the Vienna talks the allies included, principally in order to enhance the viability of the verification regime, certain versions and variants of combat aircraft which were not included in the publication "Conventional Forces in Europe: The Facts".

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present level of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation combat aircraft in the region from the Atlantic to the Urals.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  On the basis of the definition of combat aircraft proposed by the allies at the Vienna talks, the current overall level is around 6,700.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the continued production of chemical weapons under the terms of a chemical weapons convention.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The draft chemical weapons convention under negotiation in Geneva would prohibit the production of chemical weapons immediately upon the convention's entry into force. The United Kingdom neither produces nor possesses chemical weapons.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have begun work on enabling legislation with regard to the implementation of a chemical weapons convention.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The likely requirements for national legislation are assessed continuously as the draft chemical weapons convention is developed. It would be premature to start trying to draft such legislation at present, however, since some complex issues, including verification, remain to be resolved.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will consider enlisting the assistance of any non-governmental organisations with the work of a national authority established under a chemical weapons convention.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The work of the national authorities which it is envisaged would be established under a chemical weapons convention will cover a wide range of issues, reflecting the complexity of such an agreement. In this context, the specific expertise of organisations, such as the UK Chemical Industries Association, which we already consult closely, will be particularly valuable.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether signatories to a chemical weapons convention would still be able to reserve the right to retaliate in kind if subject to chemical attack, under the terms of the present draft chemical weapons convention;

  (2) whether, under the terms of article XII of the draft chemical weapons convention, Her Majesty's Government will reserve the right to retaliate in kind if subject to chemical attack as presently permitted under the terms of the Geneva protocol, 1925.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The relationship between a chemical weapons convention and existing international instruments concerning chemical weapons, such as the 1925 Geneva protocol, is a complex issue which is under consideration at the negotiations in Geneva. The current draft is not specific on the point raised.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the draft of the chemical weapons convention prohibits the continued production of chemical weapons once the convention has been concluded.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The current draft envisages the cessation of chemical weapon production upon entry into force of the convention.

  Montserrat
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on his meeting on 6 December with a delegation from Montserrat; and what plans he has to meet any other delegations from Montserrat;

  (2)what additional powers he proposes to confer on the Governor of Montserrat;

  (3)what changes he is contemplating to the constitution of the dependent territory of Montserrat;

  (4)what plans he has to lay before Parliament orders relating to the future of Montserrat.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he himself will be meeting the chief Minister and other representatives of Montserrat, now visiting London, before their departure on 9 December, and if he will make a statement on the purpose of their visit;

  (2)if he will be allowing the people of Montserrat to express their view before 18 December on the constitutional changes proposed for the dependency; and if any steps have been taken for that purpose;

  (3)what constitutional changes are proposed for Montserrat; what will be their effect on local self-government; what independent legal advice is officially available to the chief Minister in regard to the changes; what representations his Department has received in regard to the changes; and what replies have been made;

  (4)what steps have been taken to consult the people of Montserrat on the proposed changes to its constitution.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  When I visited Montserrat on 5 November, I put to the Chief Minister certain proposals to improve the regulatory framework of the offshore finance sector and invited his Government to consider them. As these proposals necessitated changes to Montserrat's constitution, we took the opportunity to put forward a draft, incorporating other changes, including consolidating the territory's various constitutional instruments into a single document; and making some other improvements, including a Bill of Rights. A Foreign Office legal adviser went out to Montserrat a week later to explain and answer questions on the proposed new constitution. The Chief Minister was also advised by the Attorney General (legal adviser to the Government of Montserrat).

  As part of the consultative process, I had further talks in London this week with the Chief Minister of Montserrat and his delegation. Following our discussions at the Foreign Office on 6 December, the Chief Minister and I recorded the understanding we had reached in an Exchange of Letters on 7 December.

  We agreed on the benefit for Montserrat of the introduction of a consolidated constitution for the territory. We made the following undertakings:

  (i)a new Constitution would be introduced as soon as possible by Order in Council, along the lines of that presented to the Government of Montserrat on 5 November, but with amendments agreed between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Montserrat including a provision recognising Montserrat's right to self-determination. The main change to the existing constitution would be the transfer of responsibility for the offshore finance sector to the governor.

  (ii)the Government of Montserrat would enact at the earliest possible date the legislation relating to the offshore finance sector recommended by the
  500
  Coopers and Lybrand report. Thus, we felt that we could withdraw our earlier insistence that the governor be given powers to promote and pass legislation.

  (iii)Her Majesty's Government would provide the necessary technical assistance to enable the Government of Montserrat to set up the necessary regulatory structure for the Montserrat finance sector, as recommended by the Coopers a nd Lybrand report.

  Latin America
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will raise the economic problems of Latin American countries and international aid and debt with his European counterparts at the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 December.

  Mr. Maude
  The full agenda for the 19 December Foreign Affairs Council does not at present include the economic problems of Latin America. There is unlikely to be opportunity to raise these issues.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will calculate the total collective loss by mothers in Birkenhead resulting from the Government's decision not to uprate child benefit in line with inflation since 1979.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I regret that information relating to child benefit is available only on a national basis and cannot be given for particular areas.

  War Widows
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate has been made of the number of pre-1973 war widows who are in receipt of(a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) rate relief.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  It is estimated that about 1 per cent. of pre-1973 war widows are in receipt of income support and that about 20 per cent. receive housing benefit which includes help with rates.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what amount would be recouped by Government via lost or reduced entitlement for(a) housing benefit, (b) income support, (c) rate relief until April 1990 and (d) lower rates of community charge after April 1990, as a result of giving post-1973 war widow rates of pension to pre-1973 war widows; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer the right hon. Member to the statement made earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

HEALTH

  Embryo and Fertility Research
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance his Department has given to embryo and infertility work within the Nottingham health authority area.
  501
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Decisions about the priority and resources to be given to infertility services are for individual health authorities to determine within their overall allocations and in the light of local circumstances. I understand that problems have arisen in Nottingham because of the demand of local consultants for extra payments for family planning and sterilisation procedures which the DHA is unwilling to pay as the work is within the doctors' contractual commitment to the National Health Service.

  General Practitioners (Contract)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of extra work that is needed in order to implement the general practitioners' new contract.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Practices already offering comprehensive services will need to do no more than at present in order to meet the requirements of the GPs' new contract. Others will need to review their practice policies. A central objective of the new contract is greater attention to health promotion and the prevention of disease. Expansion of practice teams to include more practice nurses is a favoured option for meeting this new requirement on the evidence of the current recruitment patterns.

  Ambulance Service
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he has any plans to meet the leaders of the Health Service unions to discuss the exposure to competitive tender of the non-emergency aspects of ambulance journeys;

  (2)if he will make it his policy to refer the ambulance dispute to arbitration in exchange for an undertaking from the unions involved to allow the exposure of the non-emergency ambulance service to competitive tender.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is the responsibility of health authorities to provide the most appropriate and cost-effective means of transport for their patients. Health authority managers must also retain control of the amounts they pay for salaries and wages in order that resources are not diverted away from patient care. This does not happen if responsibility for pay awards is given to an outside arbitrator.

  Child Migrants
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the book on child migrants, a copy of which has been sent to him by Nottinghamshire county councillor, the hon. Joan Taylor.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Child migration has not been seen as a valid response to the needs of children in care for over two decades. The emigration of children in care occurs only rarely nowadays, with the Secretary of State's consent, when it is clearly in the best interests of the child and the emigration plan has been rigorously scrutinised.

  National Health Service Reform
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the medical profession on the implications of the Government's502
  opt-out proposals for hospitals for an integrated health provision in district health authority areas in the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have received representations on this subject from a number of organisations and individuals. DHAs will be responsible for planning and securing a comprehensive range of services to meet the health care needs of their population. In doing this they will contract with a range of service providers, including NHS trusts which will remain an integral part of the NHS.

  HIV
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the current state of scientific knowledge on the efficiency of transmission of HIV in the heterosexual population.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is well established that HIV infection can be and is transmitted by heterosexual intercourse, though research into the efficiency of this mode of transmission is difficult to conduct in such a way as to produce conclusive and reliable results. Transmission through heterosexual intercourse is the most common mode of transmission worldwide.

  However, most studies of long-term partnerships carried out in Europe and north America have reported that 10 to 30 per cent. of female partners of known infected males have themsleves become infected, and 4 to 15 per cent. of male partners of infected females.

  This was one of the issues discussed at the expert epidemiological symposium organised by the Department of Health and the Health Education authority on 24 November this year, the proceedings of which will be published in the new year.

  National Health Service Training Agency
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what role he proposes for the National Health Service Training Agency in the provision of postgraduate education for the professions allied to medicine; and if he will make a statement;

  (2)what was the cost of the National Health Service Training Agency for 1986–87 and 1987–88 and the staffing of it for the same years;

  (3)if he will set out the current terms of reference of the National Health Service Training Agency; whether he has any plans to alter them in the light of the recent White Papers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The National Health Service training authority (NHSTA) is a special health authority covering England and Wales directly accountable to the Secretary of State for Health. Its function is to promote training in the National Health Service other than professional education for which statutory bodies, such as those for nursing and medicine are responsible. Its terms of reference, as set out in the National Health Service Training Authority (Establishment and Constitution) Order 1983, are:to identify training needs;
  to formulate, co-ordinate and develop national policy and standards;
  to provide, or make arrangements for the provision of, training programmes, courses and research;
  to stimulate, monitor and review training activity;
  to advise the Secretary of State and health authorities on all matters relating to training.
  503
  We have no plans at present to alter the NHSTA's general terms of reference. The authority is itself considering its future role and mode of operation in the light of the White Papers, and developments in Government policy on vocational training.

  The responsibilities of the Council for the Professions Supplementary to Medicine extends only to pre-qualifying training. Although theoretically post-graduate education is within the remit of the NHSTA, in practice, most development work on clinical education is carried out by the professional bodies themselves, while the NHSTA concentrates on multi-disciplinary training frameworks such as Health PICKUP.

  The cash limits for the NHSTA for 1986–87 and 1987–88 were:

  1986–87: £5·756 million.

  1987–88: £5·769 million.

  Staffing costs for the same year were:

  1986–87: £2·042 million.

  1987–88: £2·397 million.

  In Vitro Fertilisation
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which establishments provide, or research into, in vitro fertilisation for childless couples, indicating which are National Health Service facilities and which not; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Interim Licensing Authority, which is jointly sponsored by the Medical Research Council and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaeocologists, has since 1985 approved a number of centres to provide in vitro fertilisation, or to conduct specific research projects, or both. Details of these centres are given in the authority's annual report, copies of which are in the Library.

  General Whitley Council Handbook
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy towards the use of section 33, paragraph 7 of the general Whitley council handbook.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Section 33 of the general Whitley council handbook outlines principles for dealing with local disputes on matters not arising from national Whitley agreements. We expect employing authorities and their staff to take account of these principles in determining the content of their local disputes procedures.

  Dentists' Contract
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in arriving at a contract between his Department and dentists; and if copies of any documents relating to this matter are generally available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Following negotiations during the summer, proposals for a new contract for general dental practitioners were approved in principle by the General Dental Services Committee on 16 October as a basis for submissions to the doctors and dentists review body. The committee commended the proposals to the profession as "better for patients, dentists and dentistry". Detailed discussions are still in progress, and a formal response to the proposals from the dental profession is expected in July 1990.
  504
  The proposals are summarised in the edition of "BDA News" dated 21 October 1989. A copy of the relevant article will be placed in the Library.

  National Health Service Reform
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the existing regional health authorities will comment to him on the expressions of interest in National Health Service trust status submitted by the required date, before any change is made to the form of the regional health authorities in 1990.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Expressions of interest in National Health Service trust status can be made at any time. The Department welcomes comments from regional health authorities and is working closely with regional health authority officers.

  Health Authorities (Membership)
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of(a) regional health authorities arid (b) district health authorities are from ethnic minority communities.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information on the ethnic origins of health authority members is not recorded centrally. The Department invites the Commission on Racial Equality to send us nominations when we are considering the appointment of RHA members and we encourage regional health authorities to seek nominations from local community relations groups when they are considering the appointment of members of district health authorities.

SCOTLAND

  Babies (Special Care)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since 1981 the number of special care baby cots in the National Health Service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is set out in the table. The decrease in the number of cots is the result of action taken to bring provision into line with actual need.. An expert working group recently estimated that in Scotland as a whole provision still exceeds reasonable requirements. Rates of admission to special neonatal care vary greatly between boards, reaching 35 per cent. or more of all deliveries in some places.

  year

  Number1

  1981

  622

  1982

  619

  1983

  617

  1984

  603

  1985

  585

  1986

  575

  1987

  563

  1988

  552

  1989

  543

  1 Average available staffed cots in special care baby units.

  Market Research
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many market research and sample surveys were carried out by or for his Department in the last 12 months;
  505
  what was the cost of each; what was the total cost; how many were carried out in-house; how many were carried out for his Department by outside organisations; and what percentage of the total expenditure was paid to outside organisations.

  Mr. Rifkind
  In the last 12 months 37 surveys have been conducted by or on behalf of my Department, 33 of them by outside organisations. They vary greatly in size and significance, but the total expenditure was £1,115,000, 81 per cent. of which was paid to outside organisations.

  Housing
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to allow new town district councils to purchase vacant houses from their respective development corporation.

  Mr. Lang
  It is the responsibility of each development corporation to own and manage its housing stock in accordance with its own priorities. A possible role for district councils in the future of development corporation housing is outlined in paragraph 5.10 of the new towns White Paper. The White Paper commits the Government to formal consultations on the position in each town once an order for dissolution has been made and those consultations will be held with development corporations, district councils and representative tenant groups.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to advise or instruct development corporations to consult sitting tenants prior to any changes in the management of the housing stock within the new towns.

  Mr. Lang
  No. I am confident the development corporations can be relied on to use acceptable housimg management practices when preparing management agency agreements such as those set out in paragraph 5.11 of the White Paper "The Scottish New Towns: The Way Ahead" (Command 711).

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide details of any request made by Scottish Homes to dispose of land under the terms of section 2(3A) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Scottish Homes has made no request under section 2(3A) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 for consent to dispose of land.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if Scottish Homes has notified him of its intention to dispose of blocks of vacant houses to private landlords or any other non-public sector housing agency.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Prior to the introduction of section 2(3A) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 which came into force on 1 December 1989 Scottish Homes exercised its powers, under section 2(2)(h) of that Act, to dispose of land in accordance with arrangements made with the Secretary of State.

  Such arrangements did not require Scottish Homes to notify the Secretary of State of particular disposals, provided that the sale was in the exercise of its general functions and the selling price was not less than the market value of the land, as determined by the district valuer.
  506
  Under these arrangements Scottish Homes agreed to sell six groups of new untenanted houses, totalling 203 dwellings, mainly sheltered or amenity, to registered housing associations.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what valuation he will place upon the sale of vacant houses by new town development corporations to private landlords or any other housing agency.

  Mr. Lang
  Any such disposal would be based on market values.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman and managing director of the Scottish new towns; and what items were discussed.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend last met the chairmen and managing directors of the Scottish new town development corporations on 1 December, when a wide range of matters concerning the corporations was discussed.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which Scottish new towns have informed him of plans to sell off vacant houses to private landlords or to any other housing agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Cumbernauld development corporation has recently concluded the disposal of 64 houses in the Balloch area of the town to the Bield housing association. I understand that further schemes for disposal to private landlords including housing associations are under consideration in a number of towns, but no further proposals have yet been submitted for my approval.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which Scottish new towns have informed him of plans to transfer the management of development corporation houses to private housing agencies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  No development corporation has put proposals to me for my consideration, although I am aware that there may be interest in forming such agencies in East Kilbride, Glenrothes and Livingston.

  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he has given to the request from Ettrick and Lauderdale district council for £0.5 million to fund an urgent house building programme.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Next year's capital allocations, which we hope to announce before Christmas, will be determined, as in previous years, in the light of the aggregate resources available and the competing requirements of all 56 housing authorities. It is then for councils themselves to decide how to target the resources made available, based on their own assessment of housing needs in their districts, and to programme expenditure to reflect these needs, including the demand for new housing for rent if this is seen as a priority.

  Road Study, Edinburgh
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many representations were made during the consultative period on the primary road study south of Edinburgh; if he will list all bodies and individuals who submitted opinions; and if he will publish the submissions received;
  507
  (2) if he will place copies of all the submissions received in the consultative study on primary road routes south of Edinburgh in the Library;

  (3) when he expects to announce an official response to the study of primary road routes south of Edinburgh.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  To date representations have been received from some 200 individuals and organisations. As is normal practice, I have arranged that from 18 December a copy of all those which were not submitted in confidence will be placed in the Scottish Office Library in St. Andrew's house where they can be consulted by members of the public and copies obtained if that is desired. In response to the hon. Member's interest I am now arranging that a copy of these replies should also be made available in the Library. I expect to be able to make a statement on the outcome of the consultation early in the new year.

  Bathing Waters
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums will be made available to each islands and regional council in Scotland so that they may progress towards compliance with the European Community directive regarding the quality of bathing waters.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Allocations for water and sewerage programmes for the current year were set at the high level of £126 million, 14 per cent. above planned provision, and were recently increased by £4.6 million. Further, my right hon. and learned Friend announced to the House on 6 December a major increase in investment in Scotland. The additional resources announced will mean a programme of £500 million over the next three years for water and sewerage services. This will allow regional and islands councils, which determine their own priorities in the light of local needs, to make faster progress in further improving the quality of the environment including any improvements related to the quality of bathing waters. The allocations to be made to each authority will be announced early next year.

  Radiographers
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the statutory provisions which relate to the employment of radiographers.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In terms of the National Health Service (Professions Supplementary to Medicine) (Scotland) Regulations 1974, no health board can employ a person as radiographer unless that person is state registered under the provisions of the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960. That is the only statutory provision relating specifically to radiographers.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, under any proposed tendering legislation, health boards will be required to stipulate in the specifications for contract that all radiographers employed must be state registered.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There is no such specific tendering legislation nor is any planned.

  Labour Statistics
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many travel-to-work areas in Scotland the level of unemployment is higher than the British national average; and what is his estimate of current unemployment in the City of Glasgow.

  Mr. Lang
  There were 40 Scottish travel-to-work areas in October 1989 (the latest available date) which had a work force unemployment rate greater than the equivalent Great Britain rate.

  There were 52,352 persons unemployed in Glasgow city local authority area in October 1989.

  Radiographers
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is considering the introduction of helpers into the radiography service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is already open to health boards to consider appointing helpers to radiographers. As such staff are not recognised under the Whitley system, all appointments require the approval of the Scottish Home and Health Department. The mix of qualified radiography staff and helpers is a matter for the health board concerned.

  De Ville Report
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make available to hon. Members the contents of the De Ville report which relates to the question of helpers being used to assist chiropodists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A copy of the report of a working group chaired by Mr. H. G. De Ville entitled "Review of Vocational Education in England and Wales" is available in the Library.

  Electoral Roll
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of Scots registered on the draft electoral roll for 1989, and the comparable figures for 1987.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish draft electoral registers for 1989 contained 3,915,617 names, compared with 3, 978,196 in the draft registers for 1987.

  European Structural Fund
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has made, and will make, to try and reverse the recent decision by the European Community that the Borders region was not eligible for assistance under objective 5(b) of the European structural fund.

  Mr. Malcolm Rifkind
  The Government put forward a strong case to the European Commission earlier this year proposing that the Borders should be given eligibility for objective 5(b) of the structural funds, but the Commission did not accept it. The Government will continue to press the case as soon as the Commission indicates it is willing to consider additional areas for eligibility.

  Mental Hospitals
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will increase the funding provided for mental hospitals.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Allocations to health boards are not earmarked for specific purposes. However, both "Scottish Health Authorities Priorities for the Eighties" (December 1980) and "Scottish Health Authorities Review of Priorities for the Eighties and Nineties" (November 1988) identified care of the elderly with dementia and services for people with a mental handicap or illness as high priority programmes. Monitoring of expenditure on priority programmes began in 1981–82 and since then there has been a real-terms increase of 15 per cent. in the amounts spent by health boards on the three services.

  Lennox Castle Hospital
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the findings of the recent survey carried out in Lennox Castle hospital of widespread malnutrition among the patients.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None.

  Earnings
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report tables showing the proportion of (1) manual, (2) non-manual and (3) all full-time employees earning less than(a) £157, (b) 160, (c) 163, and (d) half average earnings a week for (i) men, (ii) women, and (iii) all full-time employees excluding overtime, shift and public borrowing requirements premia, in each regional authority and borough.

  Mr. Lang
  Due to the extensive amount of information requested, I will write to the hon. Member.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the numbers of full-time students in receipt of student grants in Scotland under the students' allowances scheme specifying the numbers in receipt of (i) the full maintenance grant, (ii) maintenance grant reduced by assessment of parental contribution and (iii) nil maintenance, tuition fees only paid by Scottish Office, expressing each figure as a percentage proportion of the total number.

  Mr. Lang
  The latest available figures are set out below. They relate to the academic session 1988–89 and are in respect of all students assisted by the Scottish Education Department, excluding withdrawals during the session.

  Per cent.

  Full maintenance

  21,940

  35·8

  Part maintenance

  23,902

  39·1

  Fees only

  15,344

  25·1

  A fees-only award can arise from an assessment of parental income leading to a nil maintenance award or from an application for payment of fees only, in which case no assessment is made.

  Adoption Register
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the rules concerning access to the adoption register in New Register house; and what measures he proposes to take to ease access for those who have a right to see such files.

  Mr. Rifkind
  In accordance with the Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978, the registrar general will, for the appropriate fee, have a search made of the index to the adopted children register on behalf of any person or permit that person to search the index. Thereafter the registrar general will issue to the person an extract of any entry in the adopted children register that he or she may require.

  Access to the adopted children register is being eased by the conversion of the paper index to computerised format, due to be completed in 1990.

  Sand Eels
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to extend the ban on commercial sand eel fishing in Shetland to cover the 1990 fishing season; and whether he has any plans to extend a similar ban on sand eels to the Minch.

  Mr. Lang
  Officials will be discussing the latest scientific evidence on the state of sand eel stocks around Shetland with the fishing industry next month. Decisions on the 1990 fishing season will then be taken. We have no plans to ban sand eel fishing in the Minch.

  Health Service
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland of the total planned additional expenditure on health services in Scotland for the year 1990–91, how much comes from new cash, cost improvement programmes and income generation, and how much of the total is for primary care.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Net expenditure on the National Health Service in 1990–91 is planned to increase by £223 million over 1989–90. All of this increase will be funded by the Exchequer. In addition, health boards should be able to generate a further £19 million from cost improvement programmes, and a further £0–5 million from income generation schemes under section 7 of the Health and Medicines Act 1988 over the levels achieved in 1989–90. Total net expenditure on primary care services is planned to increase by £68 million.

  Inshore Fishing
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to announce the outcome of the review of the Operation of the Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of Fishing and Fishing Methods) (Scotland) Order 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Lang
  A new order, the Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of Fishing and Fishing Methods) (Scotland) Order 1989, has today been laid before Parliament. The new regulations have been drawn up following detailed consultations with the fishing industry during the past 18 months on possible changes to the fishing regime in
  511
  Scottish inshore waters. I believe they strike an appropriate balance between protecting the respective interests of static and mobile gear fishermen, and between commercial fishermen and sea anglers. Copies of the new regulations, which are due to come into force on 1 January 1990, will be made available to industry organisations and through Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

  Straw Burning
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy towards straw burning.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 8 December 1989]: The extent of straw and stubble burning in Scotland following the cereals harvest is much less than in England and Wales and presents correspondingly fewer problems. While my right hon. and learned Friend intends to make provision to enable straw and stubble burning in Scotland to be banned in the Bill to provide new powers to control pollution and waste, he does not propose to exercise these powers unless a good case for doing so has been demonstrated.

  Capital Grant Scheme
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number and amount of capital grant scheme awards made this year by the Scottish Education Department to village and community halls in Grampian region to the latest available date; and what were the figures for each of the past five years.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 4 December 1989]: The information is as follows:

  Year

  Number1

  Amount of grant £

  1984–85

  15

  177,912

  1985–86

  13

  157,851

  1986–87

  9

  94,642

  1987–88

  9

  171,665

  1988–89

  8

  198,780

  1989–90

  10

  69,871

  1 Projects approved for grant.

  The 1989–90 figures include four projects which have been approved in principle. Further documentation is awaited to enable formal offers of grant to be issued.

  The scheme has recently been reviewed and new arrangements for the allocation of grant have been introduced for 1989–90 and future years. The need to clear outstanding commitments from earlier years has required a temporary reduction, in 1989–90 only, in the amount of grant available for new projects. The funds available for new projects in 1990–91 will revert to a level similar to that of earlier years.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Straw Stubble Burning
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on his recent proposals to ban straw stubble burning.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have not received any representations, but our proposals have been widely welcomed as 512
  striking the right balance betwen the interests of the farming industry and the general public, particularly those who live in the countryside.

  Pesticides
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which pesticides(a) he has already reviewed under his review programme, (b) he is currently reviewing and (c) he plans to review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The review of pesticides approved by my Department is undertaken by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. Pesticides containing the following active ingredients(a) have been reviewed, (b) are under review and (c) are awaiting review.

  a) Reviews concluded by the ACP:

  Aminotriazole

  Alachlor

  Aldicarb

  Aldrin

  Binapacryl

  Biological agents used as pesticides

  Bitertanol

  Captafol

  Chlordane

  Cyhexatin

  DDT

  Dieldrin

  Dimethoate

  Dinoseb

  Dinoseb-acetate

  Dinoterb

  DNOC

  Endrin

  Ethylene dibromide

  Fenbutatin oxide

  Fentin acetate

  Fentin hydroxide

  Glycol ethers

  Iprodione

  Maleic nydrazide

  Mercury compounds

  Sythetic pyrethroids

  2,4,5-T

  Triazophos

  b) Reviews currently in progress:

  2-aminobutane

  Bromoxynil

  Captan

  2, 4-D

  Daminozide

  Demeton-s-methyl

  Demeton-s-methyl-sulphane

  Diazinon

  Dichlorvos

  Dinocap

  Ferbam

  Furmecyclox

  Ioxynil

  Lindane

  Linuron

  Mancozeb

  Maneb

  Methyl bromide

  Mevinphos

  Monlinuron

  Nabam

  Oxydemeton-methyl

  Propineb

  Thiram

  Zineb

  Ziram

  c) Reviews Planned:

  Aldicarb

  Alkylaryl trimethyl ammonium chloride

  Allethrin

  513

  Alphachloralose

  Aluminium ammonium sulphate

  Aluminium phosphide

  Aluminium silicate

  Aluminium sulphate

  Aminobutane (2-)

  Amitraz

  Amitrole

  Ammonium carbonate

  Ammonium hydroxide

  Ammonium sulphamate

  Ammonium sulphate

  Anthraquinone

  Asulam

  Atrazine

  Azinphos-methyl

  Aziprotryne

  Bacillus thuringiensis

  Barban

  Benazolin

  Bendiocarb

  Benodanil

  Benomyl

  Bentazone

  Benzalkonium chloride

  Benzethonium chloride

  Benzoylprop-ethyl

  Bifenox

  Bioallethrin

  Bioresmethrin Bitumen

  Bone oil

  Boric acid

  Brodifacoum

  Bromacil

  Bromadiolone

  Bromophos

  Bupirimate

  Butoxycarboxim

  Calciferol

  Captan

  Carbaryl

  Carbendazim

  Carbetamide

  Carbofuran

  Carbophenothion

  Carboxin

  Cetrimide

  Chloramben

  Chlorbufam

  Chlordane

  Chlorfenvinphos

  Chloridazon

  Chlormequat

  Chloroethylphosphonic acid (2 -)

  Chlorophacinone

  Chloropicrin

  Chlorothalonil

  Chlorotoluron

  Chloroxuron

  Chlorphonium

  Chlorpropham

  Chlorpyrifos

  Chlorpyrifos-methyl

  Chlorthal dimethyl

  Chlorthiamid Clopyralid

  Copper ammonium carbonate

  Copper complex-bordeaux

  Copper hydroxide

  Copper oxychloride

  Copper sulphate

  Coumatetralyl

  Cresylic acid

  Cufraneb

  Cyanazine

  Cymoxanil

  Cypermethrin

  DB (2, 4-)

  DES (2, 4-)

  514

  Dalapon

  Dazomet

  Deltamethrin

  Desmetryne

  Di-allate

  Dicamba

  Dichlobenil

  Dichlofluanid

  Dichlorophen

  Dichloropropane (1, 2-)

  Dichloropropene (1, 3-)

  Dichlorprop

  Diclofop-methyl

  Dicloran

  Dicofol

  Dienochlor

  Difenacoum

  Diflubenzuron

  Dikegulac

  Dimethoate

  Diphacinone

  Diphenamid

  Diquat

  Disulfoton

  Ditalimfos

  Dithianon

  Diuron

  Dodecylbenzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride

  Dodemorph

  Dodine

  Drazoxolon

  EPTC

  Endosulfan

  Ethiofencarb

  Ethirimol

  Ethofumesate

  Ethylmercury phosphate

  Etridiazole

  Etrimfos

  Fatty acids

  Fenbutatin oxide

  Fenchlorphos

  Fenitrothion

  Fenoprop

  Fentin acetate

  Fentin hydroxide

  Fenuron

  Ferric sulphate

  Ferrous sulphate

  Flamprop-F-isopropyl

  Flamprop-methyl

  Fluoroacetamide

  Fonofos

  Formaldehyde

  Formothion

  Fosamine-ammonium

  Fosetyl-aluminium

  Fuberidazole

  Gibberellins

  Glyphosate

  Grease

  Heptenophos

  Hexazinone

  Hydrogen iodide

  Hydroxyquinoline (8 -)

  Imazalil Indol-3-ylacetic acid

  Indol-3-ylbutyric acid (4-)

  Iodofenphos

  Iprodione

  Isoproturon

  Lenacil

  MCPA

  MCPB

  Malathion

  Maleic hydrazide

  Mecoprop

  Mecoprop-p

  Mephosfolan

  Mepiquat

  515

  Mercuric oxide

  Mercurous chloride

  Metalaxyl

  Metaldehyde

  Metamitron

  Methabenzthiazuron

  Metham-sodium

  Methiocarb

  Methomyl

  Methoprene

  Methoxyethylmercury acetate (2 -)

  Methyl bromide

  Metoxuron

  Metribuzin

  Mineral oil

  Naled

  Naphthalene

  Naphthylacetamide (1-)

  Naphthylacetic acid (1 -)

  Naphthyloxyacetic acid (2-)

  Napropamide

  Nicotine

  Nitrothal-isopropyl

  Nonylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanol-iodine complex

  Norbormide

  Octhilinone

  Omethoate

  Oxadiazon

  Oxamyl

  Oxine-copper

  Oxycarboxin

  Paraformaldehyde

  Paraquat

  Pendimethalin

  Pentachlorophenol

  Pentanochlor

  Pepper

  Permethrin

  Phenmedipham

  Phenols

  Phenothrin

  Phenylmercury acetate

  Phorate

  Phosalone

  Phoxim

  Picloram

  Pirimicarb

  Pirimiphos-ethyl

  Pirimiphos-methyl

  Potassium hydroxyquinoline sulphate

  Potassium sorbate

  Prochloraz

  Prometryn

  Propachlor

  Propamocarb

  hydrochloride

  Propham

  Propoxur

  Propyzamide

  Pyrazophos

  Pyrethrins

  Pyridate

  Quassia

  Quinomethionate

  Quinonamid

  Quintozene

  Reserpine

  Resmethrin

  Rotenone

  Simazine

  Sodium carbonate

  Sodium chlorate

  Sodium cyanide

  Sodium hydrogen carbonate

  Sodium metabisulphite

  Sodium monochloroacetate

  Sodium propionate

  Sodium silver thiosulphate

  Sodium tetraborate

  Sulphur

  T (2, 4, 5-)

  516

  TBA (2, 3, 6-)

  TCA

  Tar acids

  Tar oils

  Tebuthiuron

  Tecnazene

  Terbacil

  Terbuthylazine

  Terbutryn

  Tetrachlorvinphos

  Tetradifon

  Tetramethrin

  Thiabendazole

  Thiofanox

  Thiometon

  Thionazin

  Thiophanate-methyl

  Thiourea

  Tri-allate

  Triadimefon

  Triadimenol

  Triazophos

  Trichlorfon

  Trichoderma viride

  Tricosene ((z)-9-)

  Tridemorph

  Trietazine

  Trifluralin

  Trioforine

  Vamidothion

  Verticillium lecanii

  Vinclozolin

  Warfarin Wax

  Zinc

  Zinc oxide

  Zinc phosphide

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pesticides and active ingredients are currently approved for use in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  There are currently 3,373 pesticide products approved by my Department representing 409 active ingredients.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications for new pesticides he has(a) received and (b) approved, for each year since 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Applications for pesticide registration (including renewals) received and approved by my Department were as follows:

  Year

  Received

  Approved

  1985

  n/a

  n/a

  1986

  n/a

  n/a

  1987

  1,102

  544

  1988 (including off-labels)

  1,363

  1,068

  1989 (as at 1 December 1989) (including off-labels)

  1,718

  906

  n/a = not available.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which pesticides currently approved were approved(a) before 1961, (b) between 1961 and 1970, (c) between 1971 and 1980 and (d) between 1981 and the present day; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Approved pesticides are listed in "Pesticides 1989" a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Those active ingredients approved prior to 31 December 1980 are listed as follows and those
  517
  approved prior to 31 December 1965 are marked with an asterisk. A further breakdown of this information cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.

  Aldicarb

  Alkylaryl trimethyl ammonium chloride

  Allethrin

  Alphachloralose*

  Allethrin

  Alphachloralose*

  Aluminium ammonium sulphate

  Aluminium phosphide*

  Aluminium silicate*

  Aluminium sulphate*

  Aminobutane (2-)

  Amitraz

  Amitrole

  Ammonium carbonate

  Ammonium hydroxide

  Ammonium sulphamate*

  Ammonium sulphate

  Anthraquinone*

  Asulam

  Azinphos-methyl*

  Aziprotryne

  Bacillus thuringiensis

  Barbon*

  Benazolin*

  Bendiocarb

  Benodanil

  Benomyl

  Bentazone

  Benzalkonium chloride

  Benzethonium chloride

  Benzoylprop-ethyl

  Bifenox

  Bioallethrin

  Bioresmethrin

  Bitumen*

  Bone oil*

  Boric acid

  Brodifacoum

  Bromacil*

  Bromadiolone

  Bromophos

  Bupirimate

  Butoxycarboxim

  Calciferol

  Captan

  Carbaryl*

  Carbendazim

  Arbetamide

  Carbofuran

  Carbophenothion

  Carboxin

  Cetrimide

  Chloramben

  Chlorbufam*

  Chlordane

  Drazoxolon

  EPTC

  Endosulfan*

  Ethiofencarb

  Ethirimol

  Ethofumesate

  Ethylmercury phosphate

  Etridiazole

  Etrimfos

  Fatty acids*

  Fenbutatin oxide

  Fenchlorphos*

  Fenitrothion

  Fenoprop*

  Fentin acetate*

  Fentin hydroxide*

  Fenuron

  Ferric sulphate*

  Ferrous sulphate*

  Flamprop-F-isopropyl

  Flamprop-methyl

  Flouroacetamide*

  Fonofos

  518

  Formaldehyde*

  Formothion*

  Fosamine-ammonium

  Fosetyl-aluminium

  Fuberidazole

  Gibberellins*

  Glyphosate

  Grease

  Heptenophos

  Hexazinone

  Hydrogen iodide

  Hydroxyquinoline (8 - )

  Imazalil

  Indol-3-ylacetic acid*

  Indol-3-ylbutyric acid (4 -)*

  Iodofenphos

  Iprodione

  Isoproturon

  Lenacil*

  MCPA*

  MCPB*

  Malathion*

  Maleic hydrazide

  Mecoprop*

  Mecoprop-p

  Mephosfolan

  Mepiquat

  Mercuric oxide

  Mercurous chloride

  Metalaxyl

  Metaldehyde*

  Metamitron

  Methabenzthiazuron

  Metham-sodium*

  Methiocarb

  Chlorfenvinphos*

  Chloridazon*

  Chlormequat

  Chloroethylphosphonic acid (2 - )

  Chlorophacinone*

  Chloropicrin

  Chlorothalonil

  Chlorotoluron

  Chloroxuron*

  Chlorphonium*

  Chlorpropham*

  Chlorpyrifos

  Chlorpyrifos-methyl

  Chlorthal dimethyl

  Chlorthiamid*

  Clopyralid

  Copper ammonium carbonate*

  Copper complex-bordeaux

  Copper hydroxide*

  Copper oxychloride*

  Copper sulphate*

  Coumatetralyl*

  Cresyslic acid*

  Cufraneb

  Cyanazine

  Cymoxanil

  Cypermethrin

  DB (2, 4-)*

  DES(2, 4-)*

  Dalapon*

  Dazomet*

  Deltamethrin

  Desmetryne*

  Di-allate*

  Dicamba*

  Dichlobenil*

  Dichlofluanid*

  Dichlorophen*

  Dichloropropane (1,2 -)*

  Dichloropropene (1, 3-)*

  Dichlorprop*

  Diclofop-methyl

  Dicloran*

  Dicofol

  Dienochlor

  519

  Difenacoum

  Diflubenzuron

  Dikegulac

  Dimethoate*

  Diphacinone

  Diphenamid*

  Diquat*

  Disulfoton*

  Ditalimfos

  Dithianon*

  Diuron*

  Dodecylbenzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride

  Dodemorth

  Dodine*

  Drazoxolon

  EPTC

  Endosulfan*

  Ethiofenearb

  Ethirimol

  Ethofumesate

  Ethylmercury phosphate

  Etridiazole

  Etrimfos

  Fatty acids*

  Fenbutatin oxide

  Fenchlorphos*

  Fenitrothion

  Fenoprop*

  Fentin acetate*

  Fentin hydroxide*

  Fenuron

  Ferric sulphate*

  Ferrous sulphate*

  Flamprop-F-isopropyl

  Flamprop-methyl

  Fluoroacetamide*

  Fonofos

  Formaldehyde*

  Formothion*

  Fosamine-ammonium

  Fosetyl-aluminium

  Fuberidazole

  Gibberellins*

  Glyphosate

  Grease

  Heptenophos

  Hexazinone

  Hydrogen iodide

  Hydroxyquinoline (8 - )

  Imazalil

  IndoI-3-ylacetic acid*

  Indol-3-ylbutyric acid (4 - )*

  Iodofenphos

  Iprodione

  Isoproturon

  Lenacil*

  MCPA*

  MCPB*

  Malathion*

  Maleic hydrazide

  Mecoprop*

  Mecoprop-p

  Mephosfolan

  Mepiquat

  Mercuric oxide

  Mercurous chloride

  Metalaxyl

  Metaldehyde*

  Metamitron

  Methabenzthiazuron

  Metham-sodium*

  Methiocarb

  Methomyl

  Methoprene

  Methoxyethylmercury acetate (2-)

  Methyl bromide

  Metoxuron

  Metribuzin

  Mineral oil

  Naled*

  520

  Naphthalene

  Naphthylacetamide (1-)

  Napthylacetic acid (1-)

  Napthyloxyacetic acid (2-)

  Napropamide

  Nicotine*

  Nitrothal-isopropyl

  Nonylphenoxypoly(ethyleneoxy) ethanol-iodine complex

  Norbormide*

  Octhilinone

  Omethoate

  Oxadiazon

  Oxamyl

  Oxine-copper*

  Oxycarboxin

  Paraformaldehyde*

  Paraquat*

  Pendimethalin

  Pentachlorophenol*

  Pentanochlor*

  Pepper*

  Permethrin

  Phenmedipham

  Phenols*

  Phenothrin

  Phenylmercury acetate

  Phorate*

  Phosalone

  Phoxim

  Picloram*

  Pirimicarb

  Pirimiphos-ethyl

  Pirimiphos-methyl

  Potassium hydroxyquinoline sulphate

  Potassium sorbate*

  Prochloraz

  Prometryn*

  Propachlor

  Propamocarb hydrochloride

  Propham*

  Propoxur*

  Propyzamide

  Pyrazophos

  Pyrethrins*

  Pyridate

  Quassia

  Quinomethionate*

  Quinonamid

  Quintozene

  Reserpine

  Resmethrin

  Rotenone*

  Simazine*

  Sodium carbonate

  Sodium chlorate*

  Sodium cyanide*

  Sodium hydrogen carbonate

  Sodium metabisulphite*

  Sodium monochloroacetate*

  Sodium propionate*

  Sodium silver thiosulphate*

  Sodium tetraborate*

  Sulphur

  T(2, 4, 5-)

  TBA (2, 3, 6-)*

  TCA*

  Tar acids*

  Tar oils*

  Tebuthiuron

  Tecnazene

  Terbacil

  Terbuthylazine

  Terbutryn

  Tetrachlorvinphos

  Tetradifon*

  Tetramethrin

  Thiabendazole

  Thiofanox

  Thiometon

  Thionazin*

  521

  Thiophanate-methyl

  Thiourea

  Tri-allate*

  Triadimefon

  Triadimenol

  Triazophos

  Trichlorfon*

  Trichoderma viride

  Tricosene ((Z) -9 - )

  Tridemorph

  Trietazine

  Trifluralin*

  Triforine

  Vamidothion

  Verticillium lecanii

  Vinclozolin

  Warfarin*

  Wax*

  Zinc

  Zinc oxide

  Zinc phosphide*

  Hormone Growth Promoters
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those hormone growth promoters currently approved for use in the United Kingdom and state the species for which each is authorised.

  Mr. Maclean
  No hormonal products are approved for use as growth promoters.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what dates within the last 12 months he has met representatives from(a) the Food and Drink Federation, (b) the Co-op, and (c) Grand Metropolitan to discuss food matters.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on Tuesday, 28 November 1989 at column 192.

  Eggs
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last reviewed the import penetration of the United Kingdom egg market; and on what figures his current estimate is based.

  Mr. Curry
  We monitor the trade position on the basis of monthly Customs and Excise data. In addition, we conduct an annual review of agriculture, the results of which are now published in the series "Agriculture in the UK". "Agriculture in the UK 1988", which was published early in 1989, covered the position to the end of last year. The results of the current review will be published in due course.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether any eggs are imported to be sold in the United Kingdom without undergoing salmonella checks; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what tests for salmonella are required for (a) domestic and (b) imported eggs; and what are the reasons for any differences.

  Mr. Curry
  We are testing domestic flocks. Clearly we cannot do this for imports. But imported eggs are monitored for salmonella. When we find invasive salmonella in imports we take the case up with the member state concerned.
  522
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will exclude small-scale breeders of rare and fancy poultry breeds where eggs are not sold for human consumption from the provisions of his salmonella control measures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Breeding flocks of less than 25 birds are excluded from the scope of the Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries (Registration and Testing) Order 1989. For flocks of 25 birds or more the order provides for exemption from some of the testing requirements. This provision may, depending on the circumstances, be applied to small flocks of rare breeds.

  Public Appointments
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many persons above the age of(a) 60, (b) 65 and (c) 70 years he has appointed to public bodies in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Curry
  I regret that the information requested is not readily available.

  Microwave Ovens
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will impose regulations on the temperature controls of microwave ovens; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  As the Minister made clear in the House on 6 December at column 325 the microwave ovens tested in the recent study are, in large measure, not defective. The manufacturers have issued updated instructions about their use, where the ovens were found to be not heating evenly, and have agreed to ensure that new microwave ovens will meet the higher standards which the tests have shown to be necessary.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of his survey into microwave ovens; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The cost of the report by the Institute of Food Research on testing uniformity and reproducibility of reheating in domestic microwave ovens was £28,490.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what payment he received from industry towards the costs of his survey into microwave ovens; what was the value of models of ovens donated by the manufacturers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Industry made no financial contribution towards the cost of the survey. The models to be tested were decided by the researchers on the basis of sales figures for both branded and own-brand microwaves. The particular ovens were selected at random by the researchers from manufacturers' or retailers' warehouse stock. We do not have details of the potential cost if the Ministry had had to buy the 102 ovens concerned, as it would have made no difference to the study.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which microwave cookers failed to heat food to a safe temperature in tests carried out by his Department.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the manufacturer's
  523
  name and model type of those microwave ovens which fail to heat products above 70 deg. C in his recent study; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he will now issue guidelines to consumers about the use of microwave ovens which fail to reach 70 deg. C; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  As the Minister announced on 6 December at col. 323, the manufacturers of microwave ovens have at his request issued updated instructions about their use, in cases where the recent study showed that food was not evenly heated. The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Electrical Appliances (AMDEA) issued a press release that day listing the ovens and brief instructions and a copy is in the Library of the House.

  Market Research
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many market research and sample surveys were carried out by or for his Ministry in the last 12 months; what was the cost of each; what was the total cost; how many were carried out in house; how many were carried out for his Department by outside organisations; and what percentage of the total expenditure was paid to outside organisations.

  Mr. Curry
  Information is not available in the form requested. Most statutory and other sample surveys are carried out using the Department's own resources and are reviewed at regular intervals to ensure they are cost-effective. The only major market research survey in the last 12 months was one on public attitudes to food safety which was conducted by outside organisations at a cost of £33,000.

  Coffee
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received any representations about the retail price of coffee.

  Mr. Gummer
  Yes. I have asked the Director General of Fair Trading to look into the matter.

  Poultry Laying Flocks
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what additional financial support he is making to enable county council animal health inspectors to enforce his orders dealing with the registration and testing of poultry laying flocks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The resources required for this work will be taken into account in future decisions on funding of local authorities.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to ensure that any changes to hill livestock compensatory allowances agreed at the Agriculture Council meeting on 11 December do not discriminate against the interests of British farmers in less favoured areas.
  524
  Mr. Curry
  The changes to the EC rules governing hill livestock compensatory allowances will not take effect until 1991. We have yet to take the policy decisions about the consequential effects on our national arrangements.

  Food from Britain
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he decided not to appoint a representative of consumer interests to the council of Food from Britain.

  Mr. Curry
  Food from Britain's primary role is to assist British food producers better to respond to consumer requirements both at home and in the export market. The range of talent, expertise and experience now represented on the Food from Britain council will ensure that all interests concerned in Food from Britain's work, including the consumer interests to which the Government attach a great deal of importance, will be taken properly into account.

  Ractopamine
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the uses of ractopamine in pig rearing.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand that ractopamine is the active ingredient in growth promoters used in some other countries, but no such product has been authorised for use in the United Kingdom.

  Fishing Quotas
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to bring forward his proposals for the 1990 fishing quotas, total allowable catches and other restrictions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The EC Commission's proposals on total allowable catches and quotas for 1990 are expected very shortly. The United Kingdom will of course be pressing for the best possible fishing opportunities for the United Kingdom fleet consistent with the conservation of the stocks.

  North Sea
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 4 December, if he will list the competent international organisations which have agreed that (1) harsh waters from the synthesis of intal; (2) aqueous residues from preparation of paracetemol; and (3) salt solution from manufacture of 0-tolex-bighamicle cause no harm to the marine environment under the terms of article XVI(a) of the ministerial declaration of the second international conference of the protection of the North sea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The ministerial declaration provides for a country to show to the competent international organisation that a waste causes no harm in the marine environment. It has been agreed that the Oslo Commission is the competent international organisation for this purpose, and the Oslo Commission has agreed an appropriate procedure to be followed. The Government have initiated the procedure and, as required by it, are currently in touch with other countries.

DEFENCE

  Market Research
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many market research and sample surveys were carried out by or for his Department in the last 12 months; what was the cost of each; what was the total cost; how many were carried out in-house; how many were carried out for his Department by outside organisations; and what percentage of the total expenditure was paid to outside organisations.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  During the financial year 1988–89, the latest 12 months for which information is available, 28 market research and sample surveys were carried out for the Ministry of Defence at a total cost of £247,362. All were carried out by outside organisations.

  Atomic Control Office
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials from his Department are assigned to the Atomic Control Office; what changes in numbers of personnel in the Atomic Control Office have been made since 1979; and how many meetings have been held between officials of the Atomic Control Office and officials or political representatives from the United States Government in each year since 1979 on the 1958 United Kingdom-United States mutual defence agreement on atomic energy matters.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  In 1979 the complement of the Atomic Control Office (London) (ACO(L)) was four persons. This was increased to five in the spring of 1987. Since January 1986 meetings between ACO(L) personnel and United States officials have averaged two per year. Figures for the years 1979 to 1985 are not readily available and the cost of obtaining them would be disproportionate.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation plans to deter the use of chemical weapons by the Warsaw treaty organisation forces following the complete withdrawal of United States chemical weapons from Europe by 1992.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We believe that the strategy of flexible response will continue to provide the best means of deterring any aggression in Europe.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the deployment of United States binary chemical weapons to the United Kingdom in time of crisis under the terms of the United States' contingency deployment plan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 3 November at column 625.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's chemical deterrence posture of the complete withdrawal of United States chemical weapons from Europe by 1992.
  526
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United States will on present plans continue to retain a limited retaliatory chemical warfare capability, which will form a contribution to NATO's overall strategy of deterrence.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether NATO has adopted procedures for the authorised release of chemical weapons in Europe in time of crisis.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 25 June 1986 at columns 163–64.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United States of America has adopted a contingency deployment plan for the deployment of chemical weapons in Europe in time of crisis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 July 1986 at columns 489–90, to which I have nothing to add.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation policy on retaining the nuclear capability, specifically to hit targets in the western districts of the Soviet Union, in the aftermath of the intermediate range nuclear forces treaty.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Alliance reaffirmed at the NATO summit in May that for the foreseeable future there was no alternative to the policy of flexible response as a strategy of deterrence, and that this strategy requires a mix of nuclear and conventional forces, including European-based ground-launched nuclear missiles, which should be kept up to date where necessary.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sub-strategic nuclear systems the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation currently possesses that are capable of reaching targets in the western districts of the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to volume 1 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989 (Cm 675-I). The information he requires is listed in figure 12 under NATO's intermediate nuclear forces.

  Tax-free Concessions
  Mr. Nicholas-Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the tax-free concessions available to British service men based (a) in the United Kingdom, and (b) abroad.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to my hon. Friend.

  Atomic Weapons Establishment
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what statute the Government will appoint a management contractor to run the atomic weapons establishment.

  Mr. Neubert
  No specific statutory authority is necesssary for the appointment of the initial management contractor at AWE by Government contract following selection by competion.
  527
  Mr. O'Neill
  To as the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current annual labour costs of the atomic weapons research establishments at (a) Aldermaston, (b) Burghfield, (c) Cardiff and (d) Foulness.

  Mr. Neubert
  For security reasons, it has been the policy of successive Governments not to release information of this nature.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average length of service of (a) administrative, executive and clerical staff, (b) specialist staff, (c) industrial-craft staff and (d) industrial non-craft staff at the atomic weapons establishment site at Aldermaston.

  Mr. Neubert
  The average length of service of staff at AWE Aldermaston is:

  Industrials:

  8 years.

  Non-industrials:

  14 years.

  A more detailed breakdown is not readily available.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current number of (a) administrative, executive and clerical staff, (b) specialist staff, (c) industrial-craft staff and (d) industrial-non craft staff employed by the atomic weapons establishment.

  Mr. Neubert
  It is not our practice to disclose details of the number or deployment of staff employed on the nuclear programme.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current number of staff attached to the safety division of the atomic weapons establishment; and what is its current budget.

  Mr. Neubert
  For reasons of national security it has been the policy of successive Governments not to reveal the number or deployment of staff employed at the atomic weapons establishment.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current shortfall in staff at the atomic weapons research establishments in Aldermaston in the following grades (a) administrative, executive and clerical staff, (b) specialist staff, (c) industrial-craft staff and (d) industrial-non craft staff.

  Mr. Neubert
  The current staff shortfalls at AWE Aldermaston broken down by category are as follows:

  Number

  Administrative, Executive and Clerical Grades

  43

  Specialist Staff

  129

  Craft Industrials

  66

  Non Craft Industrials

  54

  528
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total amount of overtime that has been paid out at the atomic weapons establishment sites at (a) Aldermaston, (b) Burghfield, (c) Cardiff and (d) Foulness.

  Mr. Neubert
  The total amount of overtime paid out at the AWE sites during 1988–89 is:

  £ million

  Aldermaston

  6·6

  Burghfield

  0·9

  Cardiff

  0·4

  Foulness

  0·5

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist for the retention of the safety division of the atomic weapons establishment after the introduction of private contractors at the atomic weapons establishment.

  Mr. Neubert
  Safety will remain the highest priority. The detailed relationship between the existing safety division and the proposed compliance office is still under consideration.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the nature of the relationship between the chief executive of the atomic weapons establishment and the compliance director of that establishment under the Government's proposals for the future organisation of the atomic weapons establishment.

  Mr. Neubert
  Following the appointment of the management contractor, it is planned that the compliance director will be responsible for advising the chief executive on environmental, safety and health requirements. In addition, the compliance director will be responsible to the Ministry of Defence on safety and security issues, with particular reference to the contractor's performance in these respects.

  Frigates
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to place any orders for type 23 frigates.

  Mr. Neubert
  Shortly.

  COFFEE: RETAIL PRICE
  COFFEE: RETAIL PRICE
  POLKINGHORNE REPORT: CELL LINE OWNERSHIP
  POLKINGHORNE REPORT: CELL LINE OWNERSHIP
  DISCONTINUED DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOL PROPERTY SALE
  DISCONTINUED DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOL PROPERTY SALE
  POWER STATION CONSTRUCTION: ALLOCATION OF FUNDS
  POWER STATION CONSTRUCTION: ALLOCATION OF FUNDS
  YOUNG OFFENDERS: SUICIDES WHILE IN CUSTODY
  YOUNG OFFENDERS: SUICIDES WHILE IN CUSTODY
  MR. SALMAN RUSHDIE
  MR. SALMAN RUSHDIE
  PRISONERS' NEXT-OF-KIN
  PRISONERS' NEXT-OF-KIN
  WATER: ENFORCEMENT OF EC LAW
  WATER: ENFORCEMENT OF EC LAW